Clinical officer Lewis Thoya Sirya broke down several times while testifying against cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 94 other co-accused at the Shanzu law courts in Mombasa on Wednesday.
Lewis, 47, is an elder brother to Evans Sirya, a suspect held in connection to the deaths of 448 people at Shakahola forest. He narrated to the court how he tried in vain to save his brother, wife and children.
Evans cannot account for his wife and four children. He is in a wheelchair after he suffered a stroke while in police custody last year in June.
During the emotional court session, Lewis and Evans could not hold back their tears.
“It pains me seeing my brother in this state. I paid his school fees and ensured he went through college," Lewis said.
He said his brother, who studied clearing and forwarding, was practising as a contractor, and he was doing well financially.
“I have known my brother, Evans, since he was young. He was a good and focused person, right from his high school and college, which I paid for, and even up to the time he married and continued focusing on his business as a building contractor," Lewis narrated.
Around 2018, he noticed that his Evans, who was married to Josephine Mbodze, had withdrawn their two children from school.
Brenda Jefwa and Brian Jefwa were studying at St Andrew Primary School in Malindi.
“Upon receiving this information, I called my brother to my residence and asked him why he had done so. He responded that education was ungodly and not part of God's plan. He further informed me that his children would not go to school," Lewis told the court.
Shocked by his younger brother's response, he convened a family meeting in their parents' home, attended by both my parents and all siblings.
“During the meeting, Evans reiterated that education was ungodly and he would not allow his children to attend school. His wife further told the meeting that if Evans ever decided to return their children to school, then he would have to wake up every morning to prepare," Lewis said.
Evans and his wife were both ardent followers of controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie and frequent worshippers in his Furunzi Church in Malindi.
From 2018, Evans and his family cut communication with their brother and parents.
However, in 2020, Lewis received information that his brother had relocated to Shakahola where followers of Mackenzie were to settle.
In March last year, Lewis got information that followers of Mackenzie were being forced to fast to death to ascend to heaven.
“I met my cousin, Humphrey Gandi, who is also a close friend of Evans. He was also a follower of Mackenzie. He informed me that my brother Evans’s two children had died and were buried in the same place,” he said.
The two men agreed to go to Shakahola on a fact-finding mission.
On March 23 last year, Lewis, his brother Michael Sirya, Humphrey and other people went to Shakahola accompanied by local journalists.
Lewis narrated that they were blocked by security and questioned on where they were heading. They were later allowed to walk around because the terrain was inaccessible by vehicle.
However, later a group of armed men surrounded them. They started accusing Humphrey of planning to burn down their homes. They descended on him with crude weapons.
“Humphrey sustained soft tissue injuries on the head and neck region and his complaint was booked at Langobaya police station, upon which he was referred to Baolala health centre where I accompanied him for treatment. Upon return to the police station, he was issued with a P3 form and we left for our respective homes,” Lewis said.
On April 14, he was called by the Malindi criminal investigations officer requesting ambulance services in Shakahola to rescue emaciated followers of pastor Mackenzie.
They left for Shakahola aboard Malindi subcounty hospital's ambulance, but upon reaching Baolala, they met the Malindi CIO and other officers in several vehicles coming from Shakahola.
“I confirmed that three out of the persons in the police Land Cruiser were already dead and two men out of the rescued persons who appeared to be in critical condition were transferred to our ambulance. We rushed the two to Malindi subcounty hospital, where one of them escaped immediately upon arrival while the other was admitted for treatment,” he said.
On May 16, Lewis received information that Evans had been arrested in respect of the deaths in Shakahola and was being held at Watamu police station.
“I have since visited him although, l do not know the whereabouts of his wife or his children whom I have now come to learn should be numbering six because he got more children during the period during which I was not interacting with him."
Lewis said he asked his brother about his wife and children and he informed him that he had relocated them to a secret place Kaloleni and they were all safe.