New clothes, dreams of heaven: Judge recounts Shakahola horror as Mackenzie sits silent in court

Shakahola horror key suspect Pastor Paul Mackenzie in deep thoughts during court proceedings on October 19, 2026. Photo:JOHN CHESOLISome children allegedly wore new clothes, excited by the promise of going to heaven. Others identified where their bodies should be buried.

These chilling details emerged in court on Monday as High Court Judge Diana Mochache read a judgement recounting witness accounts of the deaths at Shakahola Forest, where preacher Paul Mackenzie and his followers allegedly went to “escape the vagaries of the condemned world”.

As the judge read through the lengthy judgement, Mackenzie sat silently in the courtroom, his expression remaining largely unchanged as the accounts of the deaths unfolded.

The judgement, which runs to 1,000 pages, began at 9.40am and recounted how mothers watched their children starve to death, while a brother witnessed his siblings waste away and eventually die in what followers believed would lead them to heaven.

Shakahola horror key suspect Pastor Paul Mackenzie in deep thoughts during court proceedings on October 19, 2026. Photo: JOHN CHESOLIMochache also described how some children appeared happy at the prospect of going to heaven, with some identifying where their earthly bodies should be buried. Others wore new clothes in anticipation of their promised ascent.

The accounts formed part of the judge’s narration of witness testimonies about the events at Shakahola, a 4,860-acre forest in Malindi where the followers had settled.

Mackenzie, dressed in a red-and-black striped T-shirt, listened pensively as the judgment was read. His face remained flat throughout the session, making it difficult to discern his emotions.

He was surrounded by tight security, with officers stationed at strategic points around the courtroom, which has temporarily been set up under a tent in the backyard of the Mombasa Law Courts.

Shakahola horror key suspect Pastor Paul Mackenzie in deep thoughts during court proceedings on October 19, 2026. Photo: JOHN CHESOLIA battery of journalists, including correspondents from international media houses, filled the makeshift courtroom, watching the accused and taking photographs as the proceedings continued.

Some attendees were seen dozing off as Mochache read through the judgement, detailing how she arrived at her findings. Some of the accused were also escorted out for health breaks with the judge’s permission.

The lengthy reading prompted a pause in proceedings after more than four hours.

Mochache had earlier asked those in attendance whether a break was necessary, but they appeared opposed to the idea. At around 2 pm, however, she ordered a 10-minute break, prompting a collective sigh of relief from those packed inside the tent.

In the judgement, Mochache said Mackenzie had told his followers that he would be the last to die, as he would close the door on earth after everyone else had ascended to heaven.

According to the judge, he had assured them that they would all reach heaven, even if the journey involved “mangumi na mateke”, translated as kicks and blows.

A total of 429 bodies were exhumed from graves at Shakahola. Of these, 191 victims are the subject of the case against Mackenzie and his 30 co-accused, who are facing murder charges.

Only one of the 191 victims was an adult. The rest were children aged 16 and below.

Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga attended the judgement reading in person.