Kenya starvation cult leader charged with manslaughter

Kenyan cult leader Paul Mackenzie has been charged with 238 counts of manslaughter, along with his wife and 93 other alleged accomplices.

The additional charges come after Mr Mackenzie and his suspected accomplices were charged with terrorism last week.

He is accused of encouraging members of his Good News International Church to move to Shakahola, a remote forest in coastal Kenya, and starve to death in order to "meet Jesus".

Mr MacKenzie has denied being responsible for the deaths.

The bodies of 429 people, including children, were dug up from grave sites in the forest. Most showed signs of starvation, but some - children among them - may have been assaulted.

The 238 victims were killed on unknown dates between January 2021 and September 2023 in Shakahola, local media reports, citing court documents.

Mr Mackenzie and the other suspects pleaded not guilty during their appearance in a court in the coastal city of Mombasa on Tuesday.

Mr Mackenzie has been in custody since his arrest in April last year.