# Good News International Ministries · The Cult Dossier · The Atlas · The Congregation of Tomorrow

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The Cult Dossier · No. 104 · Apocalyptic / Doomsday
Good News International Ministries
the Shakahola Forest Massacre
2003 – 2023 · Malindi and the Shakahola Forest, Kilifi County, Kenya
XI. THERAPY, POLITICS AND THE SMALL GROUPS
Fully religious — Kenyan evangelical apocalyptic sect
### Who led it
### What it worshipped and taught
### Who was in it
### How it ended, or where it stands
### The dead
### Of note
### Its timeline
- 2003 Mackenzie founds the church in Malindi.
- 2017–2019 Repeatedly arrested over teachings against education and against identity cards; released each time without meaningful consequence.
- 2019 Closes his church and moves followers to the Shakahola forest.
- 2021–2023 Members begin the terminal fast.
- 14 APRIL 2023 Police rescue emaciated people from the forest after a tip-off; Mackenzie surrenders.
- 21 April 2023 onward EXHUMATIONS BEGIN. By the end of 2023, 429 BODIES have been recovered; the toll later rises past 440. Autopsies find starvation as the leading cause, but also strangulation, suffocation and blunt force injuries. MORE THAN HALF THE DEAD ARE CHILDREN.
- MAY 2023 THE ORGAN-HARVESTING CLAIM, WHICH THIS FILE PREVIOUSLY STATED AS FACT AND NOW DOES NOT. A police affidavit of 9 MAY said post-mortems had found organs missing from some exhumed bodies and alleged a well-coordinated trade. THREE DAYS EARLIER THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT PATHOLOGIST, JOHANSEN ODUOR, HAD SAID THE FIRST 112 AUTOPSIES FOUND ALL INTERNAL ORGANS INTACT, and the Interior Cabinet Secretary then dismissed the police report. THE TWO ACCOUNTS ARE BOTH ON THE RECORD AND THIS FILE DOES NOT PICK ONE.
- 2024 Mackenzie and 94 others charged; in January 2025 he and 29 others are charged with the MURDER of 191 children. Separate terrorism and child cruelty charges proceed.
- 16 JANUARY 2026 A CO-ACCUSED IS CONVICTED ON HIS OWN PLEA. ENOS AMANYA, known as HALLELUJAH, a grave digger who provided security in the forest, PLEADS GUILTY TO ALL 191 COUNTS OF MURDER committed between January 2021 and September 2023. Justice Diana Kavedza convicts him, orders a victim impact assessment before sentencing and directs the prison to isolate him for his own safety. IT IS THE FIRST CONVICTION ARISING FROM SHAKAHOLA.
- 11 February 2026 Mackenzie charged over 52 FURTHER deaths, on top of the existing 191 murder counts.
- 15 APRIL 2026 Justice Diana Kavedza rules that the prosecution has established a PRIMA FACIE CASE against Mackenzie and all 30 co-accused on 191 counts of murder, and places them on their defence. The prosecution had called 121 witnesses, including survivors, expert witnesses and investigating officers. The judge put it plainly: what remains in issue is NOT WHETHER THE DEATHS OCCURRED, BUT WHETHER THE ACCUSED CAUSED THEM. The defence signalled twelve witnesses, six of them experts.
- 4 JUNE 2026 A SECOND CASE REACHES THE SAME STAGE. In the separate MANSLAUGHTER case at the Mombasa magistrate's court, Mackenzie and 94 co-accused are found to have a case to answer on 238 COUNTS and put on their defence; defence hearings are set for 17–23 July. Mackenzie says he will call 20 witnesses. Terrorism charges (Shanzu) and child-related charges (Tononoka) run separately.
- AS AT 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 JUDGMENT IS EXPECTED THIS MONTH AND HAS NOT BEEN DELIVERED, with the month almost gone. No date has been reported. Kenyan reporting through 2026 has pointed to September for the verdict on the 191 murder counts. NO VERDICT HAS BEEN RETURNED AGAINST MACKENZIE. THIS ROW WILL BE WRONG THE DAY IT LANDS.
### Its people
### Paul Nthenge Mackenzie
—
Founder, Good News International Ministries · born c.1972 · active 2003–2023
Before the law. ON TRIAL. Placed on his defence April 2026 on 191 counts of murder. NO VERDICT YET.
Where things stand. IN CUSTODY, AND THE VERDICT IS DUE AS THIS STAMP IS WRITTEN. RE-CHECKED 2026-09-07: the murder trial over the deaths of 191 CHILDREN opened in SEPTEMBER 2025; in it JUSTICE DIANA KAVEDZA ruled that Mackenzie and THIRTY CO-ACCUSED had a case to answer, having heard 121 witnesses including post-mortem and government analyst evidence, and put them on their defence. RE-CHECKED AGAIN ON 25 SEPTEMBER 2026: STILL NO JUDGMENT, AND NO DATE REPORTED. Separately, on 4 June 2026 he and 94 others were put on their defence on 238 counts of manslaughter. A co-accused, ENOS AMANYA, pleaded guilty to all 191 murders on 16 JANUARY 2026 and was convicted; Mackenzie has not been. He separately faces charges framed as crimes against humanity. THIS ENTRY WILL BE WRONG WITHIN WEEKS AND SHOULD BE RE-READ BEFORE IT IS QUOTED.
- 2003 Founds the church in Malindi.
- 2017–19 Repeatedly arrested over teachings against education and identity cards; released each time.
- 2019 Moves followers into the Shakahola forest.
- 14 April 2023 Police rescue emaciated survivors; he surrenders.
- 21 April 2023 onward Exhumations begin. AT LEAST 440 BODIES recovered; more than half are children.
- 16 JANUARY 2026 Co-accused ENOS AMANYA pleads guilty to all 191 murders and is convicted; Mackenzie is not.
- 11 February 2026 Charged over 52 further deaths.
- 15 APRIL 2026 Justice Diana Kavedza finds a prima facie case against him and 30 co-accused on 191 murder counts after 121 prosecution witnesses; all placed on their defence.
Checked 2026-09-16 · living: health details are kept at home
### Justice Diana Kavedza
—
Kenyan High Court judge presiding over the Shakahola murder trial · — · active 2023–present
Before the law. Judge. Proceedings ongoing.
Where things stand. PRESIDING, AND THE JUDGMENT IS IMMINENT. RE-CHECKED 2026-09-07: she found that Mackenzie and thirty co-accused had a case to answer after hearing 121 witnesses, and put them on their defence; judgment in the deaths of 191 children is expected in SEPTEMBER 2026. THIS IS A LIVE TRIAL AND THE ENTRY SHOULD BE RE-READ BEFORE IT IS RELIED ON.
- 2023 Mackenzie and others charged following the Shakahola exhumations.
- 2024–26 The prosecution calls 121 witnesses.
- 11 February 2026 Mackenzie charged over 52 further deaths.
- 15 APRIL 2026 Rules that a prima facie case is established against all 31 accused on 191 murder counts; places them on their defence.
- Ongoing The defence case proceeds; NO VERDICT.
Checked 2026-09-07 · living: health details are kept at home
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