News Hero
Back to Discover
Channel
BBC News
Added: Oct 23, 2026 • Published: Oct 19, 2026

Kenyan cult leader on trial for child deaths

In Kenya a judge is giving a verdict today. The case is about a cult led by a man called Paul Mackenzie. He is called a preacher by his group. The court says 191 people died, most of them children.

The police say Mackenzie and 29 of his followers forced the children to stop eating. This is called starvation. The families say the children were killed so the group could "meet Jesus". Mackenzie and the 29 people all plead not guilty. They say no one was forced to die. The charge is murder. The judge listens to the accusation and the defence. The court will decide if they are guilty or not. Many people watch the trial because they want justice for the victims.

The decision will be important for Kenya. If the judge says they are guilty, the families may feel some peace. If they are found not guilty, many will be angry. The world will keep watching the case and hope the truth comes out.

Logo

Analyzing...
An error occurred. Please try again.

Video Summary

English Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the story by answering these 10 questions.