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Kenya cult leader's children still being starved weeks before trial, son says
Dan Mackenzie says he felt he had to report his own grandmother; sentencing for the cult leader and his co-accused is set for November sixth.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock on The Bonk-o-MeterPublished
Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock on this story, from The Bonk-o-Meter at 8:22 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by BBC: “Kenya cult leader's children still being starved weeks before trial, son says”, with reporting from Al Jazeera, IBTimes UK and Irish Times.
- Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 8:22 AM ET on The Bonk-o-Meter, by Dr. Nina Byte and Vera Bullock.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- BBCKenya cult leader's children still being starved weeks before trial, son says
- Al JazeeraKenyan court convicts starvation cult leader of murdering 191 people October 19, 2026 · facts used on air
- IBTimes UKKenya Cult Leader Guilty of 191 Murders After Ordering Parents to Starve Their Children to Death to 'Meet Jesus' October 19, 2026 · facts used on air
- Irish TimesKenyan cult leader who told parents to starve children guilty of almost 200 murders October 19, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe claim today is that this cult ended when police arrested Paul Mackenzie in 2023 after a tip-off.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe BBC reports his son, Dan Mackenzie, says children were still being starved weeks before the trial.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorDan first defended his father. Now he says he felt he had to report his own grandmother.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentSo the arrest was in 2023, bodies were found in shallow graves in Shakahola Forest, and now the son says he felt he had to report his own grandmother.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorI was ready to say contained. I had a sash for it.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentContained means it stopped. The judge took eight hours to read her judgment, and sentencing is November sixth.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThen the rating goes to the claim, not to anyone. Full Bonkers, and the children are the reason it's not funny.
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Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: U. S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: U.S. Department of State · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · the World archive · all months
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