The prosecution has rested its case against Paul Mackenzie after 96 witnesses, but the search for justice faces new legal hurdles in Mombasa.

The horrific chapter of the Shakahola forest massacre is inching closer to a judicial conclusion, but not without final twists. In a significant development on February 16, 2026, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) formally closed its case against self-styled pastor Paul Mackenzie and his 95 co-accused. The announcement marks the end of a grueling prosecution phase that saw 96 witnesses testify to the unimaginable atrocities committed under the guise of faith.

However, the day was marked by a setback for the prosecution. The High Court in Mombasa declined a request by the DPP to recall a key witness. The court ruled that re-opening the trial for this purpose was unjustified, a decision that underscores the judiciary's intent to expedite a case that has already dragged on for years. This ruling forces the prosecution to rely on the mountain of evidence already tabled: 426 bodies, 500 exhibits, and the harrowing tales of survivors.

The "Decade of Radicalization"

The closing of the case allows for a retrospective on the evidence presented. Chief Inspectors Raphael Wanjohi and Peter Mwangi painted a picture of a "decade of radicalization." They detailed how Mackenzie used his Good News International Church to systematically isolate followers from education, healthcare, and government. The court heard of the "biblical" settlements—Galilee, Judea, Bethlehem—carved out of the Kilifi scrubland, where starvation was codified as doctrine.

Crucially, the prosecution secured a major win earlier in the year when one of the accused, Enos Amanya Ngala, turned state witness. His testimony, separated from the main trial, provided an insider's view of the command structure that enforced the deadly fast. He revealed the hierarchy of death: children first, then women, then men, with Mackenzie allegedly planning to be the last to die.

The Weight of Evidence

The 96 witnesses included survivors who escaped the forest, often pursued by Mackenzie's armed guards. They told of children tied with ropes to prevent them from breaking their fast, and of clandestine burials under the cover of darkness. The forensic evidence linked the bodies exhumed to the starvation orders. The DPP's case is built on proving that these were not voluntary acts of suicide, but orchestrated murder and manslaughter.

With the prosecution's case closed, the defense will now have its turn. Mackenzie's lawyers are expected to argue that the followers acted of their own volition, a defense that hinges on the definition of religious freedom versus criminal coercion. The court will first rule on whether the accused have a "case to answer"—a formality given the overwhelming evidence, but a necessary legal step.

A Nation's Trauma

For the families of the victims, the closure of the prosecution's case is a bittersweet milestone. It brings them one step closer to a verdict, but it also revives the trauma of the details aired in court. Shakahola remains a scar on the national conscience, a reminder of the regulatory failures that allowed a death cult to operate in plain sight for years.

As the legal teams prepare for closing submissions, the eyes of the world remain on Mombasa. The verdict, when it comes, will set a precedent for how the state regulates religion and protects vulnerable citizens from predatory indoctrination. For now, the ghosts of Shakahola wait for the gavel to fall.