A court in Kenya is preparing to hand down a verdict in the high‑profile case of Paul Mackenzie, a self‑proclaimed pastor who has been charged with multiple counts of murder.
Prosecutors allege Mackenzie instructed parents within his fold to withhold food from their children, an accusation that has been central to the indictment. The charges on which he now faces trial include 191 counts of murder — all but one of the alleged victims were children.
The allegations have drawn intense public attention and raised questions about the activities of the religious group Mackenzie led. The case has been pursued by Kenyan authorities as a criminal matter, with the murder charges reflecting the severity of the claims brought by prosecutors.
Legal observers say the court’s decision will conclude a long and closely watched legal process. If convicted, Mackenzie would face penalties under Kenyan law relating to murder, after the court delivers its verdict.