On Monday, a trial began for a leader of one Kenyan sect that was responsible for more than 400 deaths in one of the bloodiest tragedies associated with cultism in human history caused by starvation in Kenya.
Apocalyptic evangelist Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and dozens of other individuals involved in the case denied manslaughter charges preferred against them since January in relation to what is commonly referred to as “Shakahola Forest Massacre”.
The Office of Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) stated that over 90 suspects were presented before Mombasa’s magistrate court, along with many prosecutors and other court officials.
“This is not like any other accidental death you have seen before,” said prosecutor Alexander Jami Yamina told Parami adding that they will be charged under a law providing for liability where persons enter into suicide pacts.
“It is going to be a very unique case of unlawful killing.”
He had been accused last year April after several bodies were found buried in the Shakahola forest which is located inland from Malindi, an Indian Ocean town.
For months rescuers combed through the scrubland and unearthed approximately 448 bodies from mass graves.
According to autopsies done most victims died due to hunger while others including children seemed strangled or beaten or suffocated.
Previous court papers also indicated that some organs had been harvested from the dead bodies.
About 420 witnesses are expected to take stand as this hearing goes on for four days until Thursday.
“Our preparation has been well because this matter is serious,” Mr. Yamina said.
Some testimonies will be given behind closed doors
Last month, these suspects aged between 40 women and 55 men were arraigned on terrorism charges linked to Shakahola massacre but each also faces separate cases related to murder and child torture as regards deaths, which according to prosecutors occurred between years 2020 through 2013 respectively.
By March this year, authorities had started releasing bodies of some of the victims to relatives, who have been eager to identify them using DNA after many months. So far 34 were taken home.
The Good News International Church was established in 2003 by Mackenzie but he claimed it closed down in 2019 with a view to shift base to Shakahola where he thought that the world would come to an end last August.
The gruesome affair prompted calls for greater regulation of fringe religious movements by the government even as questions arose over how Mackenzie evaded justice despite being a known extremist and facing other offences in court previously.
In its report presented last month, President William Ruto’s Commission on Cults Deaths and Religious regulation called for hybrid model of self-regulation and State oversight.
Two separate reports: one from Kenyan senate and another from state-sponsored human rights body have indicated that the police could have saved those lives.
Previous attempts at controlling religion in a country where the majority are Christians has faced stiff resistance since they are seen as unconstitutional violation against liberties separating church and state.
