In March 2023, the Kenyan authorities made a shocking discovery when they raided the Good News International Ministries (GNIM) led by Paul Nthenge Mackenzie. Mackenzie, a self-proclaimed pastor, convinced over 400 people, including children, to starve themselves to death in anticipation of the ‘end of the world’. The uncovering of mass graves in Mackenzie’s 800-acre commune left many survivors and families of the deceased traumatized.
The investigation into Mackenzie’s cult began when a man reported that his wife and daughter had joined the cult in the Shakahola Forest and never returned. This led to a police raid where emaciated survivors and hundreds of bodies were found buried in shallow graves. The survivors revealed that Mackenzie had instructed them to fast until death as a means of salvation. His strict instructions left little room for disobedience, and those who tried to escape were met with violence or disappeared.
Paul Mackenzie’s rise to power started when he worked as a taxi driver in Nairobi and went on to establish his own church in 2003. His charismatic personality and extreme religious teachings attracted followers from various backgrounds, including laypeople, teachers, and police officers. Mackenzie’s disdain for formal education and vaccinations placed him under the government’s scrutiny, leading to his arrest in 2017 after 93 children were rescued from his church. Despite these challenges, Mackenzie continued to gain followers and eventually moved to the secluded Shakahola Forest.
The tragic toll of Mackenzie’s teachings continues to mount, with the death toll reaching 448 by October 2024. Many children were among the victims of the cult’s fatal practices, which included starvation, strangulation, and blunt-force trauma. Survivors recounted harrowing experiences of abuse and manipulation, with women facing sexual assault and children being forced to fast alongside their parents.
Mackenzie’s exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic to further isolate his followers and spread apocalyptic warnings intensified the cult’s activities. While his devotees suffered from starvation, Mackenzie lived in comfort with ample food supplies in his residence. The stark difference between his living conditions and those of his followers highlighted the extent of his control and manipulation.
Legal proceedings against Mackenzie are ongoing, with charges including murder, child torture, and terrorism. The Kenyan authorities have labelled GNIM as an organised criminal group, with Mackenzie potentially facing life imprisonment if convicted. Despite overwhelming evidence, Mackenzie has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and trials for child abuse and terrorism are underway.
The survivors of Mackenzie’s cult are still grappling with the trauma they endured, with many recalling the absolute control he wielded over their lives. Some survivors have bravely shared their accounts of abuse and manipulation, shedding light on the horrors that took place within the cult. The tragic events that unfolded in Mackenzie’s commune serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of extremist ideologies and the devastating impact they can have on vulnerable individuals.
