Paul Mackenzie, a cult leader in Kenya, along with 29 others, faces charges for the murder of 191 children, whose bodies were found buried in a forest.
Despite the accusations, the defendants pleaded not guilty in a Malindi court, with one individual declared unfit for trial due to mental health reasons.
Prosecutors allege that Mackenzie instructed his followers to starve themselves and their children in preparation for the apocalypse, leading to one of the most tragic cult-related incidents in recent memory.
Members of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church lived in secluded settlements within Shakahola forest, where over 400 bodies were discovered.
Mackenzie, a former taxi driver, has been in custody since his arrest in April of the previous year. He faces charges ranging from terrorism to manslaughter and torture, with a conviction in December for unauthorized film production, resulting in a 12-month jail sentence.
According to some followers, Mackenzie prohibited children from attending school and discouraged seeking medical help, branding such institutions as Satanic.
Mackenzie’s lawyer claims he is cooperating with the investigation into the deaths. The defendants are scheduled to appear in court on March 7 for a bond hearing, as announced by the judge.