A Kenyan court has sentenced Paul Mackenzie, the leader of a doomsday cult, to 200 years in prison for murdering 191 people, almost all of whom were children. Mackenzie and 28 others were found guilty of instructing cult members to starve their children to death so they could “meet Jesus.”

Justice Diana Mochache stated that Mackenzie bore the “primary criminal culpability” for ordering his followers to fast to death, making it one of the world’s deadliest episodes of cult activity. The judge emphasized that the sentence was appropriate and just, sending a clear message that such atrocities warrant the maximum penalties allowed by law.

Mackenzie was arrested in 2023 after more than 400 bodies were discovered in shallow graves in Shakahola forest near the Kenyan coast. He was sentenced to 100 years in prison for homicide and another 100 years for offenses related to starvation, with the sentences running consecutively for a total of 200 years.

Despite the prosecution seeking the death penalty, Justice Mochache declined to impose it, stating that it would eliminate any prospect of rehabilitation and disengagement. The death sentence has not been carried out in Kenya since 1987. Mackenzie’s 28 accomplices received varying prison sentences of up to 160 years.

The judge described the killings as “cold and calculated,” noting that the perpetrators showed no remorse and even declared their willingness to fast to death themselves. Mackenzie’s followers believed he was “Jesus’s mouthpiece,” and those who opposed his teachings were beaten to death.

The Shakahola deaths have highlighted the lack of oversight of rogue religious activities and how they could have continued for so long. Investigations revealed that local administration and law enforcement officials had repeatedly turned a blind eye to the cult’s activities, despite reports from relatives of the victims.

Mackenzie established Good News International Ministries in 2003, and the church grew in popularity over the next 16 years, drawing thousands of followers across Kenya. His End Days sermons included conspiracy theories that described education as “evil,” healthcare as “against the doctrine,” and digital identity cards as “the mark of the devil.”

While the conclusion of the murder cases may bring a sense of justice for the victims and their families, the convictions only account for 191 victims, while more than 400 bodies were exhumed from the forest.