Shakahola Deaths: Court Proceedings Begin for Pastor Paul Mackenzie and 94 Co-Accused
By Esther Waithera
The trial of Pastor Paul Mackenzie and 94 others accused of involvement in the Shakahola forest deaths began today at Shanzu Court. The accused face grave charges including the deaths of 429 individuals exhumed from the forest last year and 13 terrorism-related offenses.
The case, overseen by Shanzu Magistrate Leah Juma, will feature witness testimonies spread over two sessions. The first session runs from July 8 to 11, and the second session will occur from July 22 to 25, 2024. During these proceedings, witnesses are testifying under legal protection due to the sensitive nature of the case.
On Tuesday, a key witness revealed that Pastor Mackenzie used technology and social media to lure victims into the Shakahola forest. The witness testified that Mackenzie exploited these platforms to attract individuals by promising them opportunities to build houses and farm in the forest, which he claimed would be a part of a new religious community. Once there, victims were exposed to radical ideologies and extreme religious teachings.
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