- Controversial cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his 30 co-accused persons will have to undergo mental health assessments before they are charged with murder.
- Mackenzie has spent more than 277 days since he was arrested on April 15 last year. His co-accused have also all spent more than 250 days behind bars.
Image: MINA
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has vowed to ensure everyone responsible for the Shakahola massacre is brought to book.
The CS who on Thursday commended the journey leading to the prosecution of the faces behind the Shakahola massacre described it as a step towards accountability.
"The prosecution of Paul Mackenzie and 95 others with the mass murder of hundreds of our people at the Shakahola Forest is the initial step in the long journey of accountability," Kindiki said.
The Interior boss added that those who took part in the massacre will also face the law.
"Others who by action, inaction, conduct, or misconduct, enabled the success of this most horrendous atrocity ever to happen on our territory in the name of religion, have their date with justice," Kindiki added.
Controversial cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his 30 co-accused persons will have to undergo mental health assessments before they are charged with murder.
On Tuesday, Mackenzie and the co-accused (28 men and two women) were arraigned before a Malindi High Court to be charged with the murder of 191 children, whose bodies were exhumed from Shakahola forest.
The team from the Office Director of Public Prosecution said they were satisfied with the evidence from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation.
The investigators said the suspects were either parents or guardians or were directly involved in the deaths of the children at Shakahola.
The 31 are part of 95 people who are being held in connection with the deaths of at least 429 people, whose bodies were exhumed from Shakahola last year.
The prosecution asked them to grant them two weeks to carry out mental health assessments on the suspects before they were charged.
Mackenzie has spent more than 277 days since he was arrested on April 15 last year.
His co-accused have also all spent more than 250 days behind bars.
Malindi High Court Judge, Lady Justice Thande Mugure granted the prosecution 14 days to carry out the mental assessment.
In a 298-page charge sheet seen by the Star, the DPP said Mackenzie and his co-accused jointly murdered at least 191 children in Shakahola.
Mackenzie’s co-accused are Smart Mwakalama (second in command in Mackenzie’s Good News International Church that has since been shut down), Stephen Muye, Evans Sirya, Kelvin Asena (Baba Ashley), Stephen Lwangu, Enos Amanya and Julius Kazungu.
Others are Charles Charo, Michael Baya, Titus Musyoka, Ernest Kazungu, David Amanya, Emmanuel Kilumo (Baba Noah), Joseph Bimramba, Newton Ikunda, Robert Kahindi (Baba Neema), Alex Odari, Lucas Owino, Mark Kiogora, Maurice Machach, Simon Musembi, Mwinzi Kavenge and Gilbert Katana
Steven Ngugi, Edison Safari (Baba Sifa), Alfonze Chomba (Baba Nathan), Amani Kenga (Baba Joyce), Peter Kahaso (Baba Sara) are also among the co-accused.
The only two women in the case are Mary Kahindi (Mwakalama’s wife) and Anne Anyoso.
The 11 children out of the 191, whose identities have so far been revealed are; Seth Ngala, Evabra Ngala, Sifa Edison, Nathan Mathu, Neema Robert, Joyce Amani, Stacy Hadama, Elna Mpa, Ejah Nyaleso, Sara Peter and Patience Kahindi.
The court was told that the children were killed between January 2021 and September 2023 in Shakahola in Malindi subounty, Kilifi county.
According to DPP, the 30 people who were arraigned on Wednesday with Mackenzie failed to account for their children since they were arrested more than seven months ago.