We Want The Truth- Wetangula After Kindiki's Orders Over Shakahola Mass Graves

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on Sunday, April 23 compelled security agencies in Malindi to reveal the truth about their knowledge of the cult movement in Shakahola village in Kilifi County which has seen 39 bodies exhumed so far by detectives.

Speaking at St Daniel Comboni Catholic Church in Kwanza constituency, Trans Nzoia County, Wetangula lamented the failure of the intelligence service and the structured security system in the area which left innocent Kenyans to die at the hands of rogue religious leaders, including Paul Mackenzie, believed to have coerced the deceased members to fast.

The Speaker called for thorough investigations to be done on the matter and for the government to take action against officers who absconded their duty.

"We want officers in charge of security in that area to tell the truth about what they know because people cannot die like that when there are officers paid to offer security," he urged.

"The unfolding Shakahola Forest Massacre is the clearest abuse of the constitutionally enshrined human right to freedom of worship. Prima facie, large-scale crimes under Kenyan law, as well as international law, have been committed.

"While the State remains respectful of religious freedom, this horrendous blight on our conscience must lead not only to the most severe punishment of the perpetrator(s) of the atrocity on so many innocent souls but tighter regulation (including self-regulation) of every church, mosque, temple or synagogue going forward," he stated.

Kindiki further deployed police to the village to seal off the forest where the mass graves were unearthed and for a multi-agency security team to unravel the deaths linked to fasting. 

"While the Multi-agency security team on site is doing their best to unearth the truth and prevent further loss of lives, I have directed the Regional Commissioner for Coast Region together with the Regional Security Team to reinforce the team in Malindi ahead of my visit on Tuesday.

"Enough security officers have been deployed and the entire 800-acre forest is sealed off and declared a scene of crime," he added.

Police on Sunday dug out 18 bodies from Shakahola Village bringing the total number of exhumed bodies to 39. Three shallow graves containing six bodies were the first to be found with one grave containing three bodies, while the other two contained two and the third one.

Reports indicated during the exhumation, a woman who was on the brink of death was rescued by police officers though she was against police officers' efforts to save her. 

Paul Mackenzie who is believed to have coerced the deceased members to fast is already in police custody aiding in investigations after he was initially freed on a Ksh10,000 bail.

Mackenzie who started his group in 2003 has had several run-ins with the police and he first made news when in 2018, 93 children were rescued from his movement.