Children's court sets hearing for Pastor Mackenzie in Shakahola massacre case on June 4

Tononoka Children's Court has scheduled a hearing for key suspects in the Shakahola massacre, pastor Paul Mackenzie, and 38 others on June 4.

This comes after the prosecution revealed evidence to support 17 allegations of torture and cruelty against children.

The Friday pronouncement paved the way for the court's principal Magistrate Nelly Chepchirchir to fix the hearing date for next month.

The evidence provided by the prosecution includes among others witness statements, video and audio exhibits, and forensic and expert reports.

"We would have fixed the hearing date today, but we have had to delay since Mr Wycliffe Makasembo is absent," said Principal Magistrate Chepchirchir.

She directed the prosecution to inform him through his last known address of the next mention date and production order of all the accused persons.

The court had dispensed the accused persons' attendance today but allowed them to join virtually from Shimo La Tewa Maximum Security Prison.

The court had denied the suspect's bond for being a flight risk.

Hon. Chepchirchir indicated that she will expedite the hearing of the case to ensure all parties are accorded justice.

Mackenzie and his 38 co-accused, who are parents of children victims rescued from the Shakahola forest, were charged with 17 counts of offences under the Children Act 2012, the Prevention of Torture Act 2017, and the Basic Education Act 2013.

The charges included two counts of subjecting a child to torture with an alternative count of assault causing actual bodily harm, nine charges of cruelty to a child, and six counts of infringing a child's right to education.

All 39 accused persons denied all the charges leveled against them.

The accused persons allegedly committed the offences on unknown dates between 2019 and 2023 at Shakahola Forest, Kilifi County.