- The organisation’s executive director Fr Gabriel Dolan and legal counsel Marius Kioko however said Kindiki’s action may be a cover-up.
- He also demanded the restructuring of all the village elders, Nyumba Kumi ambassadors and subcounty peace committees in Kilifi county.
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It is not enough to transfer security agents under whose watch the Shakahola massacre occurred, a rights lobby group has said.
Haki Yetu Organisation on Tuesday protested Interior CS Kithure Kindiki’s announcement on Monday that all the National government administration officers and security agents who were on duty in Kilifi county during the time that the heinous acts of Pastor Paul Mackenzie occurred will be transferred.
“We have transferred all public officers within the security sector who were in office when the crimes in Shakahola were taking place, with the exception of only those officers who reported after the events had taken place,” Kindiki said on Monday at the Malindi subcounty mortuary.
The organisation’s executive director Fr Gabriel Dolan and legal counsel Marius Kioko however said Kindiki’s action may be a cover-up.
“Transferring the officers is not good enough and it just transfers negligence to another part of the country,” said Fr Dolan in a statement.
The two said the security apparatus had numerous opportunities to stop the Shakahola killings but ignored the complaints of missing persons and suspicious activities.
“We therefore demand the immediate suspension of all the responsible security agents and a thorough and immediate investigation done on their role and failure to protect innocent lives,” he said.
He also demanded the restructuring of all the village elders, Nyumba Kumi ambassadors and subcounty peace committees in Kilifi county.
On Monday, Kindiki said they are not declaring any public official culpable but added that there must be accountability.
“Part of the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry (set up by President William Ruto), other than establishing the circumstances under which these offences took place, it will also investigate, inquire and make recommendations on action that must be taken against any public officer whose action, inaction, failure or outright negligence could have caused the deaths that have occurred on our people,” Kindiki said.
He said the government is moving forward step by step and lawfully to make sure they get to the bottom of the matter.
“I know the sentiments, feelings and emotions within the public are very high but in a situation like this, it is good for us to sober up and do things step by step,” the CS said.
“Any person along the path of accountability will have a date with destiny,” he said.
The Interior CS said the government will not let anything of the Shakahola nature happen in Kenya ever again.
-Edited by SKanyara