Controversial Pastor Paul Mackenzie and 38 other Shakahola massacre suspects have been charged with children-related offenses.
The cases which include torture, assault and cruelty saw all the 39 suspects face 17 charges before the Tononoka Children Court in Mombasa.
“Pastor Paul Mackenzie and 38 other Shakahola massacre suspects, who are parents of children victims rescued from Shakahola forest were today charged before the Tononoka Children Court in Mombasa with children-related offences such as subjecting children to torture, assault, cruelty to children, and infringing a child’s right to education.
They were charged with 17 counts of offences under the Children Act 2012, the Prevention of Torture Act 2017, and the Basic Education Act 2013.
- Laikipia rancher Lucy Wambui Jennings is dead
- Dennis Onsarigo resigns as Nyamira County Chief of Staff
These charges include 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.” said ODPP
All the 39 suspects denied the charges and will remain in remand at the Shimo La Tewa prison pending their bail application set on 15th February, 2024.
“All 39 accused persons denied all the charges leveled against them, and they were remanded at Shimo La Tewa prison pending the hearing of their bail application on 15th February, 2024. The accused persons allegedly committed the offences on unknown dates between 2019 and 2023 at Shakahola Forest, Kilifi County.” said ODPP
