Paul Mackenzie, the controversial Kenyan preacher at the centre of the Shakahola tragedy, is now facing 200 years behind bars. Justice Diana Kavedza handed down the sentence in Mombasa, splitting the term evenly: 100 years for the murder of children and another 100 years for the murder of adults.
The Shakahola deaths shocked Kenya and drew international attention to the dangers of extreme religious manipulation. Mackenzie led followers into a forest in Kilifi County, where hundreds of people died in circumstances linked to his teachings.
Two hundred years is, in practical terms, a life sentence many times over. But for the families who lost children and loved ones in that forest, the courtroom moment in Mombasa is only one part of a much longer reckoning.
Originally published by AllAfrica.