Kenya's Deadliest Cult: The Tragic Tale of Good News International Church

Over 430 victims were discovered following a police raid on Good News International Church in Kenya. Evangelical leader Paul Mackenzie, accused of orchestrating the deaths, is now on trial. Despite repeated warnings, many were drawn to his charismatic preaching. The case highlights the troubling rise of unregulated evangelical churches in Kenya.

In one of the deadliest cult-related massacres ever recorded, the remains of more than 430 victims have been uncovered since police raided Good News International Church, located approximately 70 kilometers inland from Malindi, Kenya.

Seventeen months on, locals still live in shock despite multiple warnings about the church's leader. Autopsies on over 100 bodies revealed deaths caused by starvation, strangulation, suffocation, and blunt object injuries. A gravedigger, Shukran Karisa Mangi, suspects more mass graves are yet to be discovered, with around 600 people reported missing by the Kenya Red Cross.

The church's leader, Paul Mackenzie, is on trial, accused of instructing followers to starve to death to meet Jesus. After pleading not guilty to the murders of 191 children and other crimes, Mackenzie faces life imprisonment if convicted. Despite his arrest, Mackenzie's confident demeanor in custody highlights the influence of some evangelists who undermine government authority and harm followers.

(With inputs from agencies.)