A Kenyan court has delivered a guilty verdict against Paul Mackenzie, the leader of a doomsday cult, for the murder of 191 individuals. The case, which centers on the deaths of followers who were instructed to starve themselves to 'meet Jesus,' has been described as one of the most significant cult-related tragedies in recent history. Mackenzie, who had previously denied ordering the starvation of his followers, was arrested in 2023 after authorities received a tip-off leading them to the Shakahola Forest in southeastern Kenya. Upon searching the area, police discovered numerous shallow graves containing the remains of victims.

While the total death toll of 191 is consistent across reports, there is a notable discrepancy regarding the breakdown of the victims. BBC News and Sky News report that the victims consisted of 190 children and one adult. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) also cites this 190-to-1 ratio. Conversely, Al Jazeera’s reporting does not explicitly break down the victim count by age, simply stating the total number of murders as 191. Furthermore, while most outlets focus primarily on Mackenzie, Sky News and SCMP clarify that Mackenzie was convicted alongside his wife, Rhoda Maweu, and approximately 29 other co-accused individuals. The court is scheduled to deliver sentencing for the group on November 6.