- Mackenzie and 38 co-accused persons were last week charged with child cruelty, torture and denying children the right to education.
- The suspects denied the charges before Tononoka Children’s Court principal magistrate Nelly Chepchirchir.
Image: FILE
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has declared Good News International Ministries under Paul Mackenzie as a criminal organized group.
The declaration was made on Wednesday through a gazette notice.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 22 (1) of the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares Good News International Ministries to be an organized criminal group for the purpose of the Act,” reads the notice.
CS Kindiki had earlier vowed to ensure everyone responsible for the Shakahola massacre is brought to book.
He commended the journey leading to the prosecution of the faces behind the Shakahola massacre and described it as a step towards accountability.
"The prosecution of Paul Mackenzie and 95 others with the mass murder of hundreds of our people at the Shakahola Forest is the initial step in the long journey of accountability," Kindiki said.
The Interior boss added that those who took part in the massacre will also face the law.
"Others who by action, inaction, conduct, or misconduct, enabled the success of this most horrendous atrocity ever to happen on our territory in the name of religion, have their date with justice," Kindiki added.
Mackenzie and 38 co-accused persons were last week charged with child cruelty, torture and denying children the right to education.
The suspects denied the charges before Tononoka Children’s Court principal magistrate Nelly Chepchirchir.
Mackenzie and his followers are accused of torturing the children in Shakahola Forest so they could "go to heaven".
At least 191 children and 238 adults died and were buried secretly.
The court was told that between 2020 and 2023, Mackenzie and others subjected an eight-year-old boy, identified as TW, to torture by slapping and beating him with sticks on his legs in Shakahola Forest.
They were also accused of denying a 17-year-old child, identified as JNK food, causing him suffering and injury to his health.
The child had been withdrawn from Timboni Sawasawa Academy to join the parents in Shakahola.
The suspects were also accused of wilfully and intentionally ill-treating a 17-year-old girl, identified as JCK, by denying her food.
They are also accused of denying food to a 13-year-old male child, identified as EWO. The boy, who was a student at Inavi Primary School, was withdrawn from class to join his parent in Shakahola.
Other children who were denied food were six boys EMD (14), PP (16), EGW (six), CAA (17), GN (14) and EI (13).
CAA was a student at Mtopanga Secondary School and GN was schooling at Ufunuo Elim Mishomoroni Academy.
The Tononoka Children's Court was informed that the suspects also withdrew 16-year-old WUK from Mtopanga Secondary School in 2019 and took the teenager to Shakahola.
They were also charged with 238 counts of manslaughter, contrary to Section 202 as read with Section 205 of the Penal Code, Cap. 63 Laws of Kenya.
The 238 people are out of the 429 whose bodies were exhumed from Shakahola Forest after they allegedly fasted to death on the instructions of Mackenzie and his close associates.
The 95 are accused that on diverse dates between January 2021 and September 2023 at Shakahola area in Malindi Sub-County within Kilifi County jointly killed at least 238 people.
According to the Director of Public Prosecution, the suspects in pursuance of a suicide pact for the object of their death and others not before the court, jointly killed at least 238 people.
At least 23 people out of the 238 have so far been identified.
They are Judith Farasi, Bryson Amanya, Lorna Zayuni, Lucy Mkyagawa, Harry Ngonyo, Esther Biria Masha, Emily Wanje, Gloria Riziki Chengo, and Mary Nekesa Wanyama.
Others are Brenda Achieng, Joseph Juma Buyuka, Rukia Masha, Faith Bella Otieno, Liza Agatha, Raphael Temba, Alex Konde Kaluwa, Pamela Muhonja Mukalasinga, Christopher Were, Agnes Salim, and Robert Simon Katana.
These victims were identified through a DNA process that is still ongoing.
Mackenzie and the 38 will continue being held at Shimo La Tewa Prison until February 15, when the matter will be mentioned and the bond application heard.