Cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 38 co-accused persons were on Thursday charged with child cruelty, torture and denying children right to education.
The suspects denied the charges before Tononoka Children’s Court principal magistrate Nelly Chepchirchir.
Mackenzie and his followers are accused of torturing the children in Shakahola Forest so they could "go to heaven'.
At least 191 children and 238 adults died, and were buried secretly.
The court was told that between 2020 and 2023, Mackenzie and others subjected an eight-year-old boy, identified as TW, to torture by slapping and beating him with sticks on his legs in Shakahola Forest.
They were also accused of denying a 17-year-old child, identified as JNK food, causing him suffering and injury to his health. The child had been withdrawn from Timboni Sawasawa Academy to join the parents in Shakahola.
The suspects were also accused of wilfully and intentionally ill-treating a 17-year-old girl, identified as JCK, by denying her food.
They are also accused of denying food to a 13-year-old male child, identified as EWO. The boy, who was a student at Inavi Primary School, was withdrawn from class to join his parent in Shakahola.
Other children who were denied food were six boys EMD (14), PP (16), EGW (six), CAA (17), GN (14) and EI (13).
CAA was a student at Mtopanga Secondary School and GN was schooling at Ufunuo Elim Mishomoroni Academy.
The Tononoka Children's Court was informed that the suspects also withdrew 16-year-old WUK from Mtopanga Secondary School in 2019 and took the teenager to Shakahola.
Mackenzie and the 38 will continue being held at Shimo La Tewa Prison until February 15, when the matter will be mentioned and bond application heard.
