Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Caroline Kimeu in Shakahola forest and Malindi town

‘We tried to stop her’: Kenyan teenager tells how cult starved his mother

Paul Mackenzie Nthenge Jesus Kenya Police Shakahola
Police and residents carry the exhumed bodies of victims of Paul Mackenzie Nthenge’s religious cult through the village of Shakahola last week.
Police and residents carry the exhumed bodies of victims of Paul Mackenzie Nthenge’s religious cult through the village of Shakahola last week. Photograph: AP

Two years ago, Issa Ali’s mother took all her belongings and left her family to join followers of the charismatic church leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge in the Shakahola forest in south-east Kenya.

“He told them that’s where Jesus’ second coming will happen,” the 16-year-old said.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Trump may kill free chips and salsa
Tariffs on tomatoes could turn one of dining's smallest gestures of hospitality into a line item
Salon
Salon
Selena Gomez Fans Beg Her To Dump Benny Blanco After Latest Comment About Their Relationship
What seemed like a funny story about their relationship left some viewers deeply uncomfortable, with critics accusing Benny Blanco of repeatedly embarrassing Selena Gomez in public.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
AI can help with academic research but doesn’t always get it right – here are some tips to check the information you receive
Almost 25% of adults in the United States are using artificial intelligence chatbots on a daily basis, a 2026 Pew Research Center study found.
The Conversation
The Conversation
Blink-182's Travis Barker Shares Candid Hospital Bed Photo With Kourtney Kardashian
Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker shared photos from a recent hospital visit featuring wife Kourtney Kardashian Barker and daughter Alabama, without disclosing details of his treatment
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
The 'World's Oldest' Bartender's Very Illegal Basement Bar
A recent profile of 103-year-old Irv Koch's basement bar highlights all the ways that modern zoning codes crush novel and fun third places.
Reason
Reason
Harry Potter and Cursed Child director pushed back on making play shorter: ‘I was dragged kicking and screaming’
Play, which originally opened in 2016 as two parts, has been condensed into one production
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play