Kenya's Leader of Starvation Cult, Paul Mackenzie, to Undergo Mental Health Evaluations

A judge in Kenya has ruled that a cult leader, Paul Mackenzie, who was arrested for the deaths of 400 individuals, must undergo mental health evaluations before being charged. Mackenzie was taken into custody in April last year after mass graves were discovered, containing the bodies of hundreds of people. Many of the bodies showed signs of starvation, and there were suspicions of assault, particularly among children. Mackenzie, who claimed to be a pastor and was accused of leading a doomsday cult, has denied responsibility for the deaths. Prosecutors plan to charge him and 94 others with various crimes, including murder, manslaughter, terrorism, and torture. However, the prosecution has requested additional time to determine if Mackenzie and 30 other suspects are mentally fit to stand trial. The court has granted the request and set a deadline of 14 days for the mental health evaluations. The hearing will resume on 6 February. The shocking case has garnered international attention, as the bodies of 429 individuals, including children, were unearthed from grave sites in a remote forest. Mackenzie is believed to have urged members of his Good News International Church to move to this location and prepare for the apocalypse. Witnesses have claimed that Mackenzie instructed followers to partake in fasting to "get to heaven." However, Mackenzie argues that he cannot be held responsible for the deaths, as he shut down his church in 2019. Mackenzie received a 12-month prison sentence last November for producing and distributing films without a license. His lawyer has stated that they will appeal the ruling.