Court puts Mackenzie on defence over 450 Shakahola deaths
Controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie has been put on his defence after a court found he and 95 co-accused have a case to answer over the deaths of more than 450 followers in Shakahola Forest.
The ruling by the Shanzu Law Courts marks a critical turning point in the Shakahola mass deaths case, pushing the trial into the defence stage in one of Kenya’s most disturbing criminal proceedings.
The court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, meaning the accused must now respond to the charges.
The case is built on 96 witnesses and nearly 500 exhibits, including testimony from survivors, investigators, and expert witnesses.
The court found the evidence strong enough to require all the accused to defend themselves.
Disturbing details emerge
Witnesses described a systematic campaign of radicalisation between 2020 and 2023 in Furunzi, Malindi.
Followers were allegedly indoctrinated into extreme beliefs, including fasting to death as a path to salvation — a practice prosecutors say led to the mass deaths later uncovered in Shakahola forest.
Mackenzie, co-accused to testify
Mackenzie, his wife Rhoda Mumbua Maweu, and their co-accused have denied multiple terror-related charges. They include facilitating terrorist acts and promoting extremist doctrines that endangered lives.
Following the ruling, the accused told the court they would give sworn testimony and call 13 witnesses as the defence phase begins.
The Shakahola trial is part of a wider legal battle.
Mackenzie and his co-accused also face separate charges linked to 52 deaths in Kwa Binzaro, Malindi, as authorities continue to uncover the full scale of the tragedy.
To advertise with us, send an email to advert@avdeltanews.world