Paul Mackenzie is to face trial for manslaughter in connection to the Shakahola deaths.

In what has been described as one of the most horrifying cult-related tragedies in recent history, the leader of a Kenyan starvation sect, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, has gone on trial for manslaughter. Mackenzie, a self-proclaimed pastor, is facing charges over the deaths of more than 400 of his followers in the infamous "Shakahola Forest Massacre."

Mackenzie, along with 93 other suspects, appeared in a magistrate's court in Mombasa on Monday. All defendants had previously pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of manslaughter in January. This is just one of several cases against them, stemming from the events in Shakahola Forest.

Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie

Prosecutor Alexander Jami Yamina emphasized the unprecedented nature of the trial, stating, "There has never been a manslaughter case like this in Kenya. This is going to be a very unique manslaughter case." The accused are being charged under a Kenyan law that addresses suicide pacts.

The sect's leader is accused of inciting his followers to starve themselves to death, promising them that this would enable them to "meet Jesus." The shocking case has garnered international attention and widespread condemnation.

Mackenzie was arrested in April of last year after authorities discovered several bodies in the remote Shakahola forest, located inland from the coastal town of Malindi. Following months of intensive searches, rescuers have exhumed around 448 bodies from mass graves scattered across the area.

Autopsies have revealed that most of the victims succumbed to starvation, while others—including children—showed signs of strangulation, beating, or suffocation. Disturbingly, some bodies were found to have had their organs removed, according to previous court documents.

The charge sheet lists 95 defendants, including Mackenzie's wife. Tragically, one of the accused women died in police custody last month, reportedly due to complications related to long-term illness and the effects of fasting, Yamina noted.

With at least 420 witnesses prepared to testify, the trial is expected to be extensive. Hearings are scheduled to continue through Thursday, with some testimony being presented behind closed doors.

Last month, the suspects also faced terrorism charges related to the Shakahola massacre. In addition, they are facing separate cases for murder, child torture, and cruelty, alleged to have occurred between 2020 and 2023.

Earlier this year, authorities began the heart-wrenching process of returning the bodies of identified victims to their grieving families. So far, 34 bodies have been handed over after months of painstaking DNA work.

As the trial unfolds, the world watches closely, hoping for justice for the victims of this devastating tragedy.