Rescued From Starvation, He Still Loves the Pastor Who Told Him to Fast
Peter Shukrani says even witnessing a crime would not change his devotion, a loyalty that survived his own near death by starvation.
Global News Podcast · How will violent unrest influence France's election?In Shakahola Forest in coastal Kenya, reporter Thomas Makwana spoke with Peter Shukrani, 23, who said he began attending the church of pastor Paul Mackenzie, a Kenyan preacher, as a child and was near death at the time of his rescue.
The meeting came as Mackenzie faces trial, accused of murdering 191 children, with a verdict expected soon. Mackenzie had urged followers to leave their churches for a dry tract about an hour inland from the coast, where he said fasting to death would bring them to Jesus. Hundreds went, and hundreds perished. More than 400 bodies have been recovered, with officials reporting another 600 people unaccounted for.
Asked by Makwana how he felt about Mackenzie, Peter answered, “I still love him, and I still think of him as my pastor.”
Makwana then asked whether Peter would feel differently if Mackenzie committed murder in front of him. Peter answered, “No, because I never saw or heard that he did anything bad.”
That loyalty, as Peter describes it, comes from his own long experience in the church since childhood. It does not extend to others who lost family in the forest.
Steven Muiti, a 48-year-old security guard from nearby Malindi, said his pregnant wife took their five children to Shakahola after listening to Mackenzie on TV. His wife was the only one in the family who survived. Speaking of his loss, Muiti said of Mackenzie, “If I met Pastor Mackenzie, one of us would have to die.” He added, “Sometimes I ask myself, ‘Why am I alive?’”
The remains of more than 400 of Mackenzie’s followers are held in refrigerated containers at the morgue in Malindi. A few days ago, eight additional sets of remains were returned to families as prayers sounded from a nearby church. For those who lost relatives, the report noted, no ruling can restore what was lost, though some hope the decision might offer a degree of comfort.
Questions people ask
What happened to Pastor Mackenzie?
Mackenzie was arrested in 2023 after bodies were discovered in Shakahola Forest, and he has remained in custody while facing charges including murder, manslaughter, and terrorism. He has pleaded not guilty. Kenyan courts are still working through the cases involving him and his associates.
How many people died in Shakahola Forest?
Authorities have recovered more than 400 bodies from shallow graves in the forest, making it one of the deadliest cult tragedies on record. Many victims were children, and some graves held multiple people. Identification has been slow because the remains were badly decomposed.
Why do some followers stay loyal even after a tragedy?
Psychologists point to intense belonging, isolation from outside information, and trust in a charismatic leader. When followers give up homes, schooling, and medical care, admitting the leader was wrong can feel like admitting their own sacrifices were meaningless. That cost can make loyalty stronger, not weaker.