Kindiki recommends genocide charges against Pastor Mackenzie
Tuesday, April 25th, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki recommended charges of genocide against controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie for the massacre that occurred in Shakahola Forest.
During a press briefing, the Secretary of the Interior condemned the actions of self-proclaimed religious leaders, whom he claimed used the Bible to commit heinous crimes.
He asserted that the government would employ all of its resources to convict the Shakahola village-based preacher with the harshest penalty permitted by law.
“Paul Mackenzie and all of his collaborators have a rendezvous with destiny. When the law finally caught up with him, he had already caused a great deal of damage.”
“However, he will pay dearly for the lives he has taken and the harm he has inflicted on humanity. Kindiki stated, “I am convinced that a case can be built to charge Mackenzie and his collaborators with genocide in addition to terrorism.”
The CS determined that the atrocities committed by Mackenzie and his group violated both international and domestic law.
“Under international and Kenyan law, it is possible to charge them with the crime of genocide for the following reasons:
Kindiki remarked, “Since Mackenzie and his group murdered all of these people simultaneously and used religion to commit these atrocities, it is very easy to fit this behavior within Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of Genocide.”
However, activists sought clarification from the CS as to whether Mackenzie would be charged with genocide or massacre.
ALSO READ: The Pastor’s Dilemma: Paul Mackenzie’s Journey to Leaving the Ministry After 9 Years
Genocide is the intentional killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the intent to destroy that nation or group, whereas a massacre is the indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of a large number of people.
Earlier, Noordin Haji, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), stated that the suspect would be charged with radicalization and terrorism.
The autopsy of over 70 bodies exhumed from Shakahola Forest will begin on Thursday, May 4, according to DPP Haji.
On Monday, April 24, President William Ruto criticized Mackenzie, arguing that his actions could be considered terroristic.
“Be on the lookout for those who wish to abuse even the religious sector by disguising themselves as religious people while acting contrary to the teachings and tenets of the religion, whether they are Christians, Muslims, or adherents of some other faith.
“What we are seeing in Kilifi, Shakahola resembles terrorism. There is no distinction between Mackenzie, who poses and pretends to be a pastor but is a terrible criminal. Terrorists employ religion to justify their heinous actions. Ruto stated this during the Prison Officers Pass Out Parade on April 24.
“People like Mr. Mackenzie use religion to do the same thing,” Ruto said.
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