Shakahola Families Welcome 200-Year Jail Sentence for Mackenzie

Families affected by the Shakahola massacre have welcomed the 200-year prison sentence handed to controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, saying the decision is an important step towards justice for their loved ones.

The High Court in Mombasa on Friday, November 6, 2026, sentenced Mackenzie to a total of 200 years in prison over the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children and one adult.

The court found him responsible for leading followers of his Good News International Church into dangerous fasting practices that resulted in deaths at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County.

The sentence followed two separate 100-year prison terms, which will run consecutively. Twenty-eight co-accused were also convicted and handed lengthy prison sentences.

However, for many grieving families, the court decision is only part of the justice they are seeking. They still want answers about their missing relatives and hope to recover their remains so they can give them proper burials.

More than 400 bodies have been recovered from the Shakahola area since the tragedy was discovered in 2023. Many victims remain unidentified, making it difficult for families to know whether their loved ones are among those recovered.

One of the affected parents, Stephen Mwiti, has previously shared the pain of losing all his six children in the tragedy. Only the remains of his son Samuel were positively identified.

Families have continued calling on the government to speed up DNA testing and identification of the recovered remains.

They also want authorities to preserve DNA records to ensure that relatives can still identify their loved ones even after burial.

The Shakahola tragedy shocked Kenya and raised serious questions about religious extremism and the protection of vulnerable people.

Although Mackenzie’s sentence has brought some relief to the families, many say their journey towards healing will only be complete when they find their missing loved ones and give them a dignified burial.https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FXSds5oDe/

Newsmashambani feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com