Starvation Cults in Africa: A Dark History Peaks with Shakahola Tragedy

Mass graves uncovered in Kenya’s Shakahola Forest, August 2025.

A Hidden Crisis Unveiled

NAIROBI, Kenya – As of August 11, 2025, the world is grappling with the aftermath of one of Africa’s deadliest cult-related tragedies in recent memory. The Shakahola Forest massacre, where over 400 followers of the Good News International Church starved to death under the guidance of Pastor Paul Mackenzie, has brought renewed attention to a dark chapter in African history: starvation cults. While widely reported by BBC, this story has received scant coverage in U.S. media, making it a critical topic for The African Gourmet to explore.

A History of Sacrifice

The roots of starvation cults in Africa trace back to the early 20th century, amid colonial upheaval and economic hardship. In East Africa, particularly Uganda, millenarian movements influenced by Christian missionaries emerged in the 1920s, sometimes encouraging extreme fasting as penance. By the 1980s, groups like the Holy Spirit Movement in Uganda pushed followers to deprive themselves during civil unrest, setting a precedent for later cults. These early cases, though less documented, laid the groundwork for the exploitation of vulnerable communities.

The trend escalated in the late 20th century, with leaders leveraging social instability. The 2000 Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God in Uganda, though primarily known for a mass poisoning, included fasting elements, hinting at a broader pattern of sacrificial ideology.

The Shakahola Nightmare

The most recent and devastating case unfolded in Kenya’s Shakahola Forest, near Malindi, beginning in 2023. Pastor Paul Mackenzie, a former street vendor turned preacher, founded the Good News International Church in 2003. After closing his Malindi church in 2019, he led followers to an 800-acre forest plot, urging them to starve to “meet Jesus.” The first signs of trouble emerged in April 2023 when police, acting on a tip, discovered four bodies, prompting a larger investigation.

By June 2024, 448 bodies had been exhumed, with over 600 still missing, according to Kenya Red Cross reports. Autopsies revealed deaths from starvation, strangulation, and blunt trauma, suggesting forced compliance. Survivors, including Salama Masha, recounted children dying first under a strict fasting schedule, while Mackenzie’s bodyguards allegedly raped women and disposed of the weak. Mackenzie, arrested in April 2023, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and faces terrorism charges, with his trial ongoing in Mombasa as of August 2025.

A July 31, 2025, court order in Malindi authorized the exhumation of new shallow graves, indicating the crisis may still be unfolding. The Kenyan government has sealed off the forest, declaring it a crime scene, yet the lack of prior regulation allowed this tragedy to escalate.

Why They Persist

Starvation cults thrive on desperation. In Kilifi County, where Shakahola occurred, poverty and food insecurity—exacerbated by a 2024 UN report noting 8.2% global hunger—drive people to seek salvation. Kenya’s 85% Christian population and the rise of unregulated churches since the 1980s provide fertile ground for charismatic leaders. Experts like Dr. James Kipsang Barngetuny highlight how figures like Mackenzie exploit cultural syncretism, blending Christian end-times theology with local beliefs. Psychological manipulation, including isolation and identity destruction, further entrenches these groups.

What Lies Ahead

The future of starvation cults hinges on policy and societal response. President William Ruto’s 2023 commission to regulate religious organizations aims to prevent repeats, but enforcement remains weak. Global awareness, driven by BBC coverage, could pressure Kenya to act, though U.S. media silence as of August 2025 limits international focus. Social media, used by Mackenzie to spread his sermons, may accelerate new cults, while conflict zones like Sudan—where starvation deaths were reported in 2025—pose risks for similar ideologies. Without addressing poverty and education, experts warn, these tragedies may persist.

A Contrast to Abundance

At The African Gourmet, we celebrate Africa’s culinary richness—dishes like egusi stew that nourish body and soul. The stark contrast with starvation cults underscores the need to address hunger’s root causes. Share your thoughts on this crisis in the comments and join us in supporting food security initiatives.

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