A Kenyan court convicted Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, the leader of a doomsday cult, on 191 counts of murder related to the deaths of followers in the Shakahola Forest. Investigations began in 2023 after reports surfaced of mass graves containing the bodies of individuals who starved themselves to death, believing they would meet Jesus Christ. Followers of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church were allegedly encouraged to fast to death in order to ascend to heaven. Authorities exhumed hundreds of bodies from the Shakahola Forest, with the death toll continuing to rise as searches continue. The conviction marks a significant step in holding Mackenzie accountable for orchestrating the mass starvation. The case has sparked national outrage in Kenya and raised questions about religious extremism and government oversight.