news 19 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kenyan Cult Leader Found Guilty in Deaths of Almost 200 Children
A Kenyan court has convicted a cult leader responsible for the deaths of nearly 200 children, who were allegedly starved to death. The shocking case has intensified calls for stronger regulation of religious organizations in the country. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/kenyan-starvation-cult-leader-convicted-of-deaths-of-nearly-200-children-5638476
A harrowing trial in Kenya has concluded with the conviction of Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, the leader of the Good News International Church.
Nthenge was found guilty of multiple charges related to the deaths of at least 191 children, whose bodies were exhumed from a remote forest. Investigators believe the children, along with other followers, were encouraged to starve themselves to death in order to meet what Nthenge described as “salvation.”
The court’s decision marks a significant moment in a case that has gripped Kenya and highlighted concerns about the unchecked growth of certain religious groups.
Evidence presented during the trial suggested a systematic campaign of indoctrination, where followers were told to forego food and water to reach heaven faster. The discovery of mass graves in the Shakahola forest, where many of the victims were found, sent shockwaves across the nation and internationally.
This conviction is expected to fuel ongoing debates about the balance between religious freedom and the need for state intervention to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation and harm. Calls for enhanced government oversight of religious institutions are likely to intensify in the wake of this tragedy.
The legal proceedings were extensive, with prosecutors presenting a compelling case against Nthenge and his co-accused, detailing the horrific circumstances that led to the starvation deaths.