A religious leader in court – level 2
23-10-2026 07:00
A court in Kenya is delivering a verdict in a mass murder case involving a cult leader named Paul Mackenzie. Mackenzie and 29 followers are accused of killing 191 people, mostly young children.
The man led hundreds of people into a forest in southern Kenya. He convinced them that the world was ending and told them to stop eating so they could go to heaven. Police found many bodies buried in mass graves in the forest.
Families who lost their children and loved ones are still deeply hurt by the tragedy. Mackenzie and his followers say they are not guilty and they didn’t force anyone to stop eating. Today, families are hoping the judge’s decision will bring them peace.
Difficult words: mass murder (killing a large number of people at the same time or over a short period), cult (a religious group with extreme beliefs), mass grave (a single grave with many dead bodies).
You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.
How many people are Mackenzie and his 29 followers accused of killing, and who were most of the victims?
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