MOMBASA, Kenya — Peter Mackenzie charged over further 52 cult deaths, prosecutors said Wednesday, linking the self-proclaimed preacher of the Good News International ministry to the infamous Shakahola starvation cult that killed more than 400 people.
The charges were filed at Mombasa Law Courts, where Mackenzie and seven co-accused were arraigned on multiple counts, including murder, organized criminal activity, and facilitating terrorism. According to prosecution submissions, the incidents related to the additional 52 deaths occurred between January and July 2025 in Kwa Binzaro, Chakama Location, Magarini Sub-County, Kilifi County, where the sect allegedly operated.
Prosecutors allege that Mackenzie and his associates were part of a radicalized religious group whose extremist teachings endangered the lives of followers and contributed to at least 52 deaths. The charges include counts of murder, organized criminal activity, radicalization, and facilitating the commission of a terrorist act under Kenya’s Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Mackenzie has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The matter is scheduled for mention before the High Court in Mombasa on March 4, 2026.
This latest case builds on earlier proceedings linked to the Shakahola Forest massacre, one of Kenya’s deadliest cult-related tragedies, in which over 400 bodies were exhumed from mass graves in Kilifi County. Authorities said the victims were followers allegedly encouraged to starve themselves under Mackenzie’s extremist teachings, believing that death would bring them closer to “meeting Jesus.”
Even after his initial arrest in 2023, prosecutors allege Mackenzie continued to direct activities and influence followers from custody through handwritten notes and financial transactions, expanding the scope of alleged crimes. The additional 52 deaths were discovered at another remote location, far from the original Shakahola site, suggesting that the cult’s deadly network persisted beyond the forest.
Eight suspects, including Mackenzie, appeared in court and denied the charges. They face multiple counts of murder and organized criminal activity before the High Court.
This development has reignited calls from civil society groups and legal experts for stricter oversight of fringe religious movements and the expedited prosecution of cult-related offenses, given the scale of human loss and suffering associated with the Shakahola episode.
Authorities continue to investigate the extent of the sect’s activities and recover further evidence. Prosecutors insist that justice must be delivered for the victims and their families, whose lives were devastated by the extremist doctrines and actions of the group’s leadership.
The case has drawn national attention, highlighting ongoing challenges in monitoring radical religious movements and ensuring accountability for mass atrocities. Observers say the court proceedings and subsequent convictions could serve as a precedent in Kenya’s fight against cult-related crimes.
