Malindi Court places Pastor Mackenzie and 30 others on defence for murder charges
By Zipporah Ngwatu, April 15, 2026A Malindi High Court has placed Good News International Ministries founder and pastor Paul Mackenzie, alias Mtumishi, alias Nabii, alias Papaa, and 30 other accused persons on defence for murder charges.
The popular and controversial Pastor Mackenzie, together with 30 other individuals, were charged with 191 counts of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
However, the seventh accused person in the murder case, Enos Amanya, alias Amos Ngala Amanya, alias Aleluya, pleaded guilty to the murder charges, and a plea of guilty was entered, and he is awaiting sentencing.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, by Lady Justice Diana Kavedza, it has stated that the court has found out that evidence produced in court discloses a prima facie case requiring the accused persons to be put on their defence.
Judge Kavedza notes that the expert reports, the recovery of bodies, and the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses placed the accused persons within the vicinity of the scene of the crime (Shakahola) at the material time, collectively establishing a prima facie case.
The learned judge also stated that the witnesses described some of the accused persons as village elders, guards, grave diggers, cooks and others as performing various roles within the settlement.
“I find that a prima facie case has been established against all the accused persons on all counts. I therefore place each of the accused persons on their defence in accordance with Section 211 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Cap. 75 Laws of Kenya,” Judge Kavedza ruled.
In the detailed ruling, the judge cites that it is submitted that the accused persons acted in concert towards a common unlawful purpose and that liability may therefore attach collectively under the provisions of Section 21 of the Penal Code.
“The evidence places the accused persons in proximity to the deceased persons within Shakahola; it is also contended that the presence of the accused persons at the scene, together with the victims, raises an inference consistent with participation in a joint enterprise,” Judge Kavedza notes in her ruling.
According to the evidence adduced in court, Pastor Mackenzie’s ministry was founded in 2003 and registered in 2010 and expanded into media through Good News Media (K) Limited, also known as Times TV, in 2012.
The evidence on record reveals that he relocated his ministry to Shakahola Ranch in 2019, and his following grew massively, whereby his followers were attracted by promises of agricultural land and communal settlement.
The promises pushed the ministry’s membership significantly, and the number increased during the COVID-19 period.
Later, the prosecution avers that there emerged a rigid and isolative system characterised by indoctrination to fast to death in order to ascend to heaven and meet Jesus.
It is further alleged that a structured hierarchy of death was propagated, placing children first, the youth, women and then men, with the men in that order.
However, it was revealed that Pastor Mackenzie, the lead minister, and his family were positioned as the last to die.
Further, the evidence in court reveals that the followers allegedly surrendered property, destroyed personal documents, and severed contact with family and society, including leaving their employment.
They lived in an isolated environment (forest) with limited access to external interference.
In April 2023, the state led search and rescue operations leading to the discovery of mass graves, and by October 2023, 429 bodies were exhumed alongside the rescue of 67 adults and 25 children.