He smiled after 200 years sentence: Pastor Mackenzie’s reaction while leaving court goes viral

A video showing controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie smiling broadly and happily greeting people as he left court after being sentenced to 200 years in prison has surfaced online, drawing attention to his unexpected reaction.

The footage, recorded on Friday, November 6, shows Mackenzie walking out of the courtroom alongside several of his co-accused following the conclusion of their sentencing at the Mombasa High Court.

However, as he stepped outside and came into view of journalists and other people gathered at the court premises, Mackenzie appeared cheerful, breaking into a broad smile and waving at the crowd.

He also appeared to acknowledge people around him with friendly greetings, maintaining the smile as he walked past members of the press who had gathered to cover the landmark judgment.

His reaction stood in sharp contrast to the gravity of the occasion, coming moments after Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache handed him one of the longest prison sentences in Kenya’s history over the deaths of 191 people at Shakahola Forest.

The footage has since circulated online, with the preacher’s cheerful demeanour drawing attention because of the 200-year sentence he had just received.

Mackenzie, the founder of Good News International Church, was sentenced over his role in the deaths of 190 children and one adult whose bodies were discovered in shallow graves at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County.

The High Court found him guilty alongside 28 co-accused on October 19, 2026, following a trial examining the deaths of followers who had been instructed to fast in the belief that they would meet Jesus.

In handing down the sentence on Friday, Justice Kavedza divided Mackenzie’s punishment into two 100-year terms, reflecting two categories of murder established during the trial.

He received 100 years for 183 counts of murder by starvation, involving 182 children and one adult. The court also handed him another 100 years for eight counts of murder by direct homicide involving children who were killed through other means.

The judge ordered the two sets of sentences to run consecutively, meaning one would begin after the other, bringing his total prison term to 200 years.

The court found that Mackenzie played a central role in organising the movement of his followers to Shakahola, where he issued instructions for them to fast to death.

During the sentencing, the judge detailed how Mackenzie exercised control over the religious settlement and directed the deadly fasting practices.

The court heard that children were expected to die first, followed by young people, women and finally men. Mackenzie and members of his inner circle were expected to undertake the final fast.

The judge also found that children who resisted fasting, cried because of hunger or attempted to escape were subjected to violence.

Some of the burials were described by members of the group as weddings, with followers believing that those who died had gone to meet Jesus.

Justice Kavedza said Mackenzie had abused his spiritual authority and betrayed the trust placed in him by followers who looked to him for religious guidance.

The prosecution had asked the court to impose the death penalty, but the judge declined, reasoning that such a punishment could be seen as a form of victory by people who believed death would take them to heaven.

Mackenzie’s deputy, Smart Deri Mwakalama, received 160 years in prison, while the other co-accused were handed sentences ranging from 10 to 160 years, depending on their individual roles in the killings.

Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on showbiz and human-interest stories. Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

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