How Mackenzie Allegedly Directed a Suicide Pact from Behind Bars
Paul Mackenzie and Sharlyne Anindo Temba have been charged in connection with the deaths of 29 people in Kwa Bi Nzaro forest, Kilifi County, in what investigators have referred to as “Shakahola season two.”
The charges come amid ongoing investigations into cult-related fatalities linked to Mackenzie’s group. Mackenzie, already facing charges for the deaths of over 450 followers of his banned Good News International Ministries (GNI), now faces accusations alongside Temba and four others for orchestrating a suicide pact that resulted in multiple deaths between January and July 2025.
The victims include one identified person, Samuel Owino Owuoyo, while the rest remain unnamed, with many believed to be children. Forensic evidence and witness statements have been used to link the remains to the accused.
Parallel proceedings are underway at the Shanzu Law Courts, where Mackenzie, Temba, and six associates are facing terrorism and radicalisation charges linked to the deaths of at least 52 people. Prosecutors claim the group promoted a belief system that rejected government authority and encouraged followers to fast to death as a form of spiritual ascension.
Evidence includes digital materials, land transactions, and transport arrangements that connected the group to the forest in Kilifi. The High Court in Mombasa is also dealing with 25 murder charges, most of which involve children aged between one and eleven.
The court has ordered psychiatric evaluations to assess the suspects’ mental fitness for trial and has opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and the risk of further radicalisation. Police investigations suggest that Mackenzie continued to influence his followers while incarcerated at Shimo La Tewa Maximum Security Prison.
Evidence from call records, mobile money transactions, and witness testimony shows he coordinated meetings and delivered virtual sermons encouraging followers to travel to Malindi and fast to death. Temba and other associates are alleged to have travelled to multiple counties, mobilising former GNI members and directing them to Kwa Bi Nzaro under the pretext of prayer gatherings.
Authorities believe more than 40 people were confined and starved in a homestead within the forest, mirroring the events of the Shakahola tragedy. The next court hearing is scheduled for 4 March.
