Cult mastermind implicated in the deaths of 400 individuals, among whom were 191 children.
In a shocking turn of events, a cult leader named Paul Mackenzie has been charged with the murder of 191 children in Kenya. Mackenzie, also known as Mackenzie Scott, was arrested in April 2023 and has already been charged with terrorism-related crimes, manslaughter, and torture.
The 30 defendants, including Mackenzie, are next due to appear in court today, Wednesday 7 March, for a bond hearing. The cult was located in the Shakahola forest, an 800-acre area where the followers lived in secluded settlements.
Investigations reveal that the cult followers were forced to fast until they 'went to sleep', according to survivors. This practice, coupled with the denial of food and medical care, led to the tragic deaths of hundreds of children. The bodies of more than 400 children were found buried in the forest.
Francis Wanje, a 59-year-old high school teacher, was one of the rescuers. He found his nine-year-old grandson at Shakahola but was too late to save some of his grandchildren. Wanje also managed to rescue another child he found at the scene.
Survivors and victims' families have reported that Mackenzie urged followers to fast to 'go see Jesus'. The cult members were forbidden from sending their kids to school and from seeking medical help when they were ill. Initially, the worshippers would travel to the forest and return home, but from late 2022, the followers claim they were not allowed to leave.
Police and prosecutors allege that apart from starvation, some victims may have been strangled, suffocated, or beaten to death using blunt objects. Neema, a former cult member, escaped from the forest by making a hole in the rear wall of her mud-walled hut during a guard's meal break. Neema and her friends were weak but managed to reach the main road where they met a motorist who took them to the hospital.
Mackenzie's lawyer claims he is cooperating with the investigation into the deaths. It is worth noting that Mackenzie was also convicted in December of last year of producing and distributing films without a license and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Shakahola is now under 24-hour police guard and declared a crime scene with access forbidden. The boy's mother and her husband, Wanje's daughter and son-in-law, are still missing. The search for them continues.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by cults and the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of all children.
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