Kenyan doomsday sect leader jailed for 200 years over 191 murders
Paul Mackenzie, leader of a Kenyan doomsday sect, has been sentenced to 200 years in prison for the deaths of 191 people, including 190 children. The victims were members of his church who were coerced into starving themselves to death in the Shakahola forest.
Why it matters
This represents one of the most severe cult-related mass casualty events in recent history, raising questions about religious regulation and law enforcement oversight.
Paul Mackenzie was found guilty last month over the deaths of 191 people in Kenya’s Shakahola forest. Photograph: EPA Paul Mackenzie was found guilty last month over the deaths of 191 people in Kenya’s Shakahola forest. Photograph: EPA Kenya Kenyan doomsday sect leader jailed for 200 years over 191 murders Paul Mackenzie convicted over the deaths of 190 children and one adult after followers were ordered to starve themselves and their families
Prefer the Guardian on Google The leader of a Kenyan doomsday sect has been sentenced to 200 years in prison for the murders of 190 children and one adult in one of the world’s worst cult disasters in recent history.
The sentence, comprising 100 years for murder by starvation and 100 years by direct homicide, came two weeks after the court in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa found the cult leader guilty of the crimes.
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