The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recorded a breakthrough in the Shakahola massacre trial after Mackenzie co-accused, pleaded guilty to the murder of 191 people.
Enos Amanya, alias Hallelujah, pleaded guilty to the offences before the High Court in Mombasa, bringing to an end a 22-month run in the case where he denied the charges.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recorded a major breakthrough in the Shakahola massacre trial after one of the principal suspects dramatically changed his plea and confessed to participating in the deaths and burials of more than 191 victims, most of them children.
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Enos Amanya, alias Hallelujah, one of 29 accused persons charged over the Shakahola killings, pleaded guilty to 191 counts of murder before the High Court in Mombasa, bringing to an end 22 months of denial since the case commenced.
Court heard that the offences were committed between January 2021 and September 2023,” said DPP
The court was further informed how Amanya acted as a grave digger and provided security within Shakahola forest, where strict obedience to Mackenzie’s teachings was adhered to.
Amanya also confirmed that his children were victims of the cult and that he witnessed their deaths and precided over their burial together with his wife.
“Prosecution explained to court how Amanya served as a grave digger and provided security within Shakahola forest, enforcing Mackenzie’s teachings and ensuring absolute obedience among followers. court was told that the sect used coded language to normalize death where bodies were referred to as “fertilizer,” burials as “planting,” and dying as “taking a jet” to meet Jesus.
Amanya confessed that his own children were among the victims. He admitted witnessing the deaths of his children Ejah Nyaleso and Senaida and participating in their burial alongside his wife, Anne Anyoso Alukhwe, who is also an accused person. He told the court that only one child, Izrael Veronica, survived after rejecting the teachings and leaving Shakahola to seek employment.
Prosecution further revealed that as time progressed, Mackenzie declared that entry into heaven required total obedience, with dissenters subjected to brutal punishments, including being tied with binding wire and beaten with sticks and tree branches until death,” said DPP
Justice Kavedza ordered that the Amanya undergo the necessary assessment before sentencing proceeds. The judge also called on the prison officer to isolate him for his own safety.
“At the request of the DPP, the court ordered the Coast Regional Probation and Aftercare Service to prepare a comprehensive victim impact assessment report to guide sentencing, including consideration of the surviving child. The officer in charge of Shimo La Tewa Maximum Security Prison was directed to isolate the convict for his safety,” said DPP
