KENYA: Cult leader found guilty of operating unlicensed studio amid ongoing probe

By Ollus Ndomu

Paul Mackenzie, the preacher associated with a Kenyan cult linked to the deaths of over 400 people, faced a different legal outcome on Friday as he was found guilty of operating a studio and distributing films without a license.

The preacher has been in police custody since his arrest in April, following the grim discovery of numerous bodies in mass graves in the Shakahola forest in the coastal county of Kilifi.

While Mackenzie has not been formally charged in connection with the deaths, prosecutors assert that he ordered his congregants to starve to death in a purported bid to meet Jesus.

Alongside the unlicensed studio charges, Mackenzie is facing additional serious charges, including terrorism and child trafficking.

However, a notable development occurred during the court proceedings, as the magistrate acquitted Mackenzie of the specific offense of inciting children against attending school.

The legal saga surrounding Mackenzie continues to unfold, shedding light on the complex circumstances surrounding the cult and its leader.