I Don't Need Permission To Visit Shakahola- Raila

According to him, he did not need anyone's permission to pay a visit to the site, adding that he had initially made public his intentions to do so.

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May 5, 2023 - 15:59
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I Don't Need Permission To Visit Shakahola- Raila
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (in blue shirt) in Malindi addressing the press on Friday, April 5, 2023. /SHESHI VISUAL ARTS

Azimio la Umoja Coalition leader Raila Odinga on Friday, May 5 defended his move to visit the Shakahola mass gravesite despite being blocked by police on the basis of being a security operation zone.

Speaking to the media, Raila argued that the Shakahola massacre was a global headline event and poured cold water on journalists and human rights activists being barred from visiting the 800-acre piece of land in Kilifi County.

According to him, he did not need anyone's permission to pay a visit to the site, adding that he had initially made public his intentions to do so.

"The Shakahola incident has caught the world's attention. I haven't seen anywhere else where there have been reports of cults (and) the media is blocked.

Azimio Leader Raila Odinga and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi when they arrived at the Shakahola Command Centre in Kilifi County. /DAILY NATION

"Why did the government ban the media and human rights from the ground? I don't need anyone's permission to get there and I had even made my visit public," Raila protested, adding that the purpose of his visit was to condole with Kenyans who had lost relatives there.

At the same time, Raila called out fraudsters hiding in the guise of religion to take advantage of innocent Kenyans and called on the authorities to crack down on them.

He further noted that Azimio la Umoja coalition had forewarned regarding the rampant mushrooming of churches across the country, which were not taken seriously.

"These are conmen using religion to prey on innocent Kenyans. They are criminals and should be arrested.

"We raised concerns about the regulations of churches but we were ignored. Now we have been vindicated. These are the same religious leaders who allow politicians to use the church to politicise," he said.

At the same time, he accused hypocritical politicians of concealing vital information on the Shakahola massacre from the public and that the security officers were privy developments at Shakahola Forest but were unwilling to disclose the cause of death of 110 followers of controversial pastor, Paul Mackenzie, for unselfish gains.

"They know everything that happened here. They have been seen together praying here in Malindi, Mombasa, Nairobi, and other places. What has happened here is a way to destroy the good name of religion," Raila stated.

Raila also accused the church of surrendering to the politicians who flock to their churches every Sunday and accused the government of failing to license some churches and that some deacons only used their institutions to rob innocent Kenyans, stating that "These are businessmen seeking to gain riches from their faithful. They are criminals that need to be held accountable."

He further argued that the situation at Shakahola forest was ashaming the country and committed, on behalf of Azimio, to stand for the rights of the people of Kenya, protect the lives and all Kenyans and will deal with anyone who will do harm to the people.

The former Prime Minister claimed that the police were acting on "orders from above" to deny the opposition leader access to the site.

"CS Kindiki told me the area is an operation zone. But at the same time, there are MPs on the way coming to the site and we were asked to wait for them. They are yet to arrive. But why allow MPs and deny me entry into the scene?" he posed.

"I came here to witness what happened at Shakahola, an incident that shocked Kenya and the entire world. This can not happen in a country with proper law and order. Where are the security personnel when all these occurred? Why are they coming out now to protect dead bodies?"

Rescue personnel at the vast Shakahola Forest where the search of survivors and excavation of bodies linked to Paul Mackenzie's cult was carried out on April 27, 2023. /MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA

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