Cult in the forest, Chapter 2: The blind spots that allowed Mackenzie to kill

Locals from Shakahola Centre help dig up graves at Shakaola forest part of the 800 acres linked with cult leader Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church on June 6, 2023.

More than 400 lives lost. Families shattered. Fortunes surrendered. A preacher whose deadly influence went unchecked. Shakahola was more than a forest of mass graves. It was a tragedy of manipulation, institutional failure and the exploitation of faith. In a special six-part series, the Nation goes beyond the horror to uncover the people, money, machinery and failures behind Kenya's deadliest cult tragedy.

This is the second instalment; in case you missed the first one, check it out here.

For many, Shakahola followed a process of mobilisation, persuasion and radicalization.

'Even if he were to be hanged, I will never see my children again.' — Stephen Mwiti, who lost six children.

In his final plea, the doomsday preacher portrayed himself and his 28 co-accused as victims of the tragedy.

The SIM cards may have enabled Paul Mackenzie to communicate with people outside prison and send and receive money while behind bars.

Mackenzie issued directives requiring followers to fast, while those who resisted faced physical abuse.

KeNHA’s proposed toll of Sh8 per kilometre has sparked fierce backlash over fears of double taxation.

Kenya accounts for the largest number of documented African recruits by Russia.

The backlog includes nearly 400,000 cards that have remained uncollected for more than 10 years.