Shakahola  prime suspect,shakahola forest,shakahola massacre Stories

Court rejects Mackenzie’s bid to remove psychologist’s report in Shakahola massacre case
Farhiya Hussein  |  May 26, 2025

The ruling marked a significant win for the prosecution in the ongoing case involving Mackenzie and 37 others accused of serious offences related to t...

Shakahola survivors still terrified by Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s name, psychologist tells court
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 23, 2025

She said they handled 13 children, many of whom displayed symptoms of deep trauma and grief. Some carried intense anger, while others struggled with s...

Shakahola trial: Children's officer recounts discovery of tortured, emaciated minors
Farhiya Hussein  |  May 22, 2025

Muteti told Principal Magistrate Hon Nelly Chepchirchir that between February and March 2023, Shakahola residents called their office to rescue emacia...

Shakahola massacre: Court hears chilling testimonies of alleged torture as Mackenzie, associates face child abuse charges
Farhiya Hussein  |  May 21, 2025

Helen Mwikali Kimwele, who manages the Mayungu Children’s Centre in Malindi, recalled receiving 43 children in 2017 who had been rescued from GNI-affi...

Malindi pastor’s bizarre rituals spark calls for crackdown on rogue religious leaders
Farhiya Hussein  |  Apr 28, 2025

Clerics representing various faith groups spoke out, urging authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the pastor’s activities.

How religious extremism in Kenya reflects delayed reforms and weak law enforcement
Mary Wambui  |  Apr 26, 2025

The Musyimi taskforce recommended the formulation of a policy framework to deal with religious extremism, sects and cults to ensure transparent and re...

Shakahola massacre: Court of Appeal reinstates 191 murder charges against Paul Makenzie
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Apr 12, 2025

The judges on Friday emphasised that the 191 charges stem from the same facts and form a single transaction, making them permissible under the law.

Government plans mass burials for Shakahola victims amid DNA identification delays
Farhiya Hussein  |  Apr 08, 2025

Since the exhumation of 429 bodies from the Chakama forest, the government has collected 336 DNA samples. However, only 66 bodies have been positively...

Mackenzie helped secure release of follower who forced his children out of school, court told
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Mar 26, 2025

Mganga said his father removed his siblings, who were in class three and form four, from their education as part of a broader pattern of ignoring soci...

Families of Shakahola victims left in limbo as DNA testing faces funding shortfall
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Mar 14, 2025

So far, 333 DNA samples have been tested out of the 453 bodies recovered, yet only a fraction have been matched to their relatives.

Witness recounts how Mackenzie lured followers to Shakahola, away from public scrutiny
Charles Adinda  |  Mar 03, 2025

The witness said he was given a motorcycle which he used to transport bodies to their mass burial sites.

Mungatana withdraws Bill seeking to regulate churches citing need for consensus
Lucy Mumbi  |  Nov 27, 2024

The Bill aimed to curb extremism and address the growing challenges posed by unregulated religious organisations.

Shakahola Massacre: Paul Mackenzie's trial postponed to 2025 due to shortage of prosecutors
Amina Wako  |  Nov 11, 2024

Prosecutor Victor Simbi informed the court that the prosecutorial team assigned to the case was severely understaffed due to sudden transfers and addi...

IG Kanja directs Internal Affairs Unit to replace arbitrarily transferred officers
Mary Wambui  |  Oct 26, 2024

The unit has been struggling with a lack of funds, which consequently affects its detectives' mobility during investigations.

Shakahola: Witness recounts how father was recruited as gravedigger, cases of wedding rituals
Farhiya Hussein  |  Sep 11, 2024

The witness recounted that his father, once an alcoholic, became a devout follower of Mackenzie after discovering his sermons on Times TV in 2019.

Shakahola massacre trial: Witness describes fasting, escape ordeal in hands of Mackenzie
Farhiya Hussein  |  Sep 10, 2024

The witness revealed that, after fasting for three days in the harsh conditions, he attempted to escape to find food.

Prison officer summoned over alleged torture of Mackenzie's wife, other female suspects
Farhiya Hussein  |  Sep 09, 2024

The officer will appear before the court on September 11, 2024.

Second Shakahola massacre suspect dies in custody
Farhiya Hussein  |  Sep 09, 2024

Munyambo's death comes after that of Mary Charo Mbita, another accused, who died earlier while in custody at the Coast Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Ombudsman names security chiefs who failed to stop Shakahola massacre
Joseph Ndunda  |  Aug 30, 2024

The Ombudsman wants the Principal Secretary for the State Department of National Security and Administration and the Inspector General of police to ho...

How security agencies ignored warnings over Shakahola Forest leading to massacre
Amina Wako  |  Aug 16, 2024

According to CI Hamara, a report of alleged illegal land invasion, subdivision, and sale was filed on August 4, 2021, but no follow-up actions were ta...

How defilement in Shakahola happened under Mackenzie's nose -Minor
Farhiya Hussein  |  Aug 15, 2024

The minor informed the court that her mother's efforts to have the case reported to the police were thwarted by Mackenzie.

17-year-old girl testifies about forced removal from school, life in Paul Mackenzie's Shakahola cult
Mishi Gongo  |  Aug 13, 2024

The minor revealed that she was forced to fast for 38 days before authorities intervened.

Shakahola: Gruesome details surface as Mackenzie's manslaughter case begins
Mishi Gongo  |  Aug 12, 2024

The prosecution has lined up about 90 witnesses, including 13 protected ones, to testify in court. 

Chilling tale of deception, betrayal and deaths for victims of Shakahola rituals
Farhiya Hussein  |  Aug 12, 2024

State witness recounted the harrowing experience of being manipulated into starving his daughter and wife to death.

Proposed law to curb religious extremism set for first reading
Farhiya Hussein  |  Aug 05, 2024

All churches and religious organisations will be required to submit financial returns every year if the bill passes.

Interior CS nominee Kindiki apologises to Kenyans for Shakahola massacre
Farhiya Hussein  |  Aug 01, 2024

Mackenzie allegedly instructed his followers to starve themselves and their children to death as a means of achieving heaven.

Bill proposes hefty fines for preachers who swindle followers with false promises
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jul 31, 2024

A religious leader who solicits money with promises of “financial favour from God” will be fined Sh5 million or jailed for 10 years.

How Mackenzie’s Shakahola victims suffered under ruthless militia-like gang
Farhiya Hussein  |  Jul 24, 2024

The court heard that the gang carried out systematic exterminations under an intricate governance system.

Daudi Anguka’s never-say-die spirit earns him Netflix fame
Farhiya Hussein  |  Jul 20, 2024

Mvera is an emotional thriller about corruption and organ trafficking, premiered on online streaming service Netflix on July 5

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