By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The 7th prosecution witness in the Shakahola massacre terrorism-related case described how he was forced to aid his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter in fasting to death.
While testifying before Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Leah Juma, the protected witness revealed that he initially tried to protect his child. However, he eventually succumbed to pressure from elders who were enforcing the fast and monitoring the deaths.
These elders were reportedly tasked by Paul Mackenzie, the prime suspect in the Shakahola massacre, to implement his radical teachings among his followers.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions the witness recounted that he had no choice but to deprive his daughter of food and water, leading to her death after 15 days.
He also shared that his wife died after enduring a ten-day starvation period in a makeshift tent where she had relocated.
“Over the course of two days—Wednesday and Thursday—the witness provided a harrowing account of how Mackenzie’s radical teachings resulted in the deaths of over 400 people in the vast Shakahola forest. He explained that many children died between January and February 2023 following Mackenzie’s declaration of a fasting period. Initially voluntary, the fasting regime was later made mandatory by Mackenzie. The witness also noted that Mackenzie personally conducted burials for children who succumbed to starvation,” Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said on X.
The witness added that he attempted to escape but was deterred by fear of capture and a lack of resources.
The witnessed said after his child’s death, his wife moved to a makeshift tent in compliance with an order requiring fasting followers to retreat deep into the forest to evade police detection. At that time, police and families were actively searching for missing loved ones.
“Following his wife’s death, the witness told the court that he spent his remaining time in the forest transporting bodies from makeshift tents to burial sites and digging graves. He testified that after transporting these bodies, he began fasting but occasionally broke the fast by consuming honey and water,” ODPP added.
The ODPP said that the witness made these distressing revelations during his examination-in-chief, conducted by the prosecution team led by Peter Kiprop, Jami Yamina, Anthony Musyoka, Victor Owiti, Betty Rubia, and Peris Ogega.
The tragic Shakahola massacre resulted in a significant loss of life, attributed to the extreme beliefs promoted by Paul Mackenzie’s ministry. Over 400 individuals, including numerous children, perished in Shakahola forest as a result of Mackenzie’s coercion into prolonged fasting.
The main suspect was first arraigned in court on April 27, 2023 to face several serious charges among them Terrorism, murder, and crimes against humanity.
The court adjourned the hearing until September 30, 2024, with further proceedings scheduled from October 1 to October 3, 2024, and October 28 to October 31, 2024.