Families who lost loved ones in the Shakahola tragedy are calling on the government to seize assets belonging to controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and use the proceeds to compensate victims.
Led by Michael Ruwa, who lost seven relatives in the tragedy, the families say compensation would help them cope with the devastating losses they have endured since the discovery of mass graves in Shakahola Forest, Kilifi County.
Speaking in Malindi, the families described the tragedy as a painful experience that robbed them of loved ones who were key pillars of support in their households.
Ruwa urged the government to identify and confiscate Mackenzie’s property, arguing that proceeds from the assets should be directed towards supporting affected families.
Mercy Fondo, another member of an affected family, called for firm legal action against Mackenzie, saying many families continue to struggle with grief and emotional distress following the deaths of their relatives.
Wallid Sketty of human rights organisation Vocal Africa said seizing Mackenzie’s assets would send a strong message to individuals accused of exploiting religion to mislead vulnerable members of society.
Sketty added that those who use religious beliefs to promote harmful practices should be held accountable, arguing that bereaved families should not be left to bear the consequences of the tragedy alone.
The families’ demands come after the High Court convicted Mackenzie and 28 co-accused in connection with the deaths of 191 people, comprising 190 children and one adult.
In its judgment delivered on October 19, 2026, the court found that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused. The case centred on followers of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church, who were encouraged to undertake extreme fasting in the belief that it would enable them to reach heaven.
The court rejected the defence argument that the victims had voluntarily fasted to death, finding that the deaths occurred within a system of enforced fasting that also affected children.
Mackenzie and his co-accused are expected to return to court on October 30 for a mitigation hearing ahead of sentencing scheduled for November 6. The defence has indicated plans to appeal the convictions.
The Shakahola tragedy came to national attention in April 2023, when authorities began uncovering bodies in mass graves in the forest, where Mackenzie’s followers had established a secluded religious community. More than 400 bodies have since been recovered in investigations linked to the tragedy.
The deaths sparked national debate over the regulation of religious institutions, the protection of vulnerable people and the responsibility of authorities to intervene when religious practices put lives at risk.
As the criminal proceedings move towards sentencing, the families are calling for accountability beyond the convictions, saying compensation should form part of efforts to address the lasting impact of the tragedy.
