- Mackenzie is suspected of indoctrinating followers of his church into fasting to death
- Ruto was speaking during a church service at Makutano in West Pokot.
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A Judicial commission of inquiry to probe the Shakahola cult deaths will be formed, President William Ruto has announced.
The commission, Ruto stated, will be tasked with establishing what led to the killing of the now over 100 people in the church owned by pastor Paul Mackenzie.
"This week I will be appointing a judicial commission of inquiry so that what happened there does not happen again," Ruto said.
He was speaking during a church service at Makutano in West Pokot.
He stated that all the commissioners, security heads, investigation, and intelligence officers in the area have since been transferred to pave the way for the probe.
The head of state further stated he will be meeting church leaders for a consultation with a view to forming a Taskforce that will see mechanisms to detect individuals misusing religion developed.
"We want to weed out the characters who want to abuse religion to run businesses and things that are anti-religion in the republic," he remarked.
"We want to provide a framework agreed with our religious leaders that will provide for self-regulation."
Mackenzie of Good News International church and televangelist Ezekiel Odera of New life prayer centre are both in police custody in connection to the killings.
Mackenzie is suspected of indoctrinating followers of his church into fasting to death with the belief of ascending to heaven to meet Jesus Christ.
Odera will remain in custody until May 2 when Court will rule on whether he will be detained for 30 more days to allow detectives to conclude the probe.
The announcement by Ruto comes after the Senators also formed an 11-member committee to investigate the mysterious deaths.
The probe seeks to establish the role played by Mackenzie, who is alleged to have asked his followers to starve to death.
The committee will also establish through the office of the Registrar of Societies, the number and activities of religious leaders in the country including their registration and compliance status.
“The committee should establish a legal and registration framework for religious organisations in the country,” the motion states.