shakahola massacre Stories
Three of those rescued, all women, appeared frail and were immediately rushed to Malindi Sub-County Hospital for medical attention.
The deaths were received between July 9 and July 14, 2025, triggering immediate deployment of an investigative team to the area to assess the situatio...
Testifying before Principal Magistrate Leah Juma, Consultant Forensic Psychologist Dr Oscar Githua explained how Mackenzie used charisma and spiritual...
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...
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...
Muteti told Principal Magistrate Hon Nelly Chepchirchir that between February and March 2023, Shakahola residents called their office to rescue emacia...
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...
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.
Since the exhumation of 429 bodies from the Chakama forest, the government has collected 336 DNA samples. However, only 66 bodies have been positively...
So far, 333 DNA samples have been tested out of the 453 bodies recovered, yet only a fraction have been matched to their relatives.
The witness said he was given a motorcycle which he used to transport bodies to their mass burial sites.
The Bill aimed to curb extremism and address the growing challenges posed by unregulated religious organisations.
Prosecutor Victor Simbi informed the court that the prosecutorial team assigned to the case was severely understaffed due to sudden transfers and addi...
The unit has been struggling with a lack of funds, which consequently affects its detectives' mobility during investigations.
The witness revealed that, after fasting for three days in the harsh conditions, he attempted to escape to find food.
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.
State witness recounted the harrowing experience of being manipulated into starving his daughter and wife to death.
The court heard that the gang carried out systematic exterminations under an intricate governance system.
Out of the 453 bodies linked to Mackenzie’s teachings, only 34 have been positively identified and handed over to relatives for burial.
Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Leah Juma was forced to adjourn the proceedings after the witness, a senior consultant surgeon, broke down in tears...
Mackenzie, along with 94 others, faces 13 counts of terrorism-related offences. The court has set marathon hearing dates from July 8-11 and July 22-25...
Since the inception of the first phase in April last year, a total of 446 bodies have been exhumed.
The discovery from three gravesites raised the number of bodies to 436 since the first phase of exhumations began last April.
The homicide detectives, led by Director Martin Nyuguto, have spent the last few months mapping and identifying new mass graves.
The prosecution confirmed supplying evidence to the defence lawyers, expressing confidence in proving the case beyond reasonable doubt.
The governor noted that preserving the bodies was a burden to the already overwhelmed county of Kilifi and a nuisance to the visitors of the hospital.
Principal Magistrate Nelly Chepchirchir further directed the prosecution to serve the accused with all exhibits it will rely on in its case.
The suspected cult leader and 94 of his co-accused will remain in custody until their case is concluded.
She was previously honoured as the Best Journalist of the Year 2023 at the Mombasa Youth Awards and recognised among the 100 Most Influential Kenyan M...
Lawyer Wycliffe Makasembo was required in court on Wednesday following Mackenzie's March 13, 2024 refusal to attend proceedings in his trial.
