The Inter Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) has expressed outrage over Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s Shakahola cult that has left over a hundred people dead.
IRCK in a statement on Thursday, April 27, noted that while Mackenzie might have escaped the scrutiny for many years, he must not escape the chains of justice.
“We come together as the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya to express our outrage and dismay over the nature of revelations on the 800-acre piece of land, where seemingly hundreds of unsuspecting seekers of God found themselves indoctrinated into cultic pathways, chained on doctrinal hysteria, and ended up mysteriously in unmarked graves. Kenyans are irritated and traumatized by the shocking news from the unthinkable,” IRCK stated.
Read More
The religious leaders urged the government to take the opportunity and review and regulate laws governing religious institutions.
“In the midst of lamentations and finger-pointing, and hard questions, the IRCK considers the Shakahola happenings as an opportunity for us to advise for reviewing and strengthening of laws and regulations for religious Institutions in Kenya.
“Every organization, whether religious or non-religious should operate within the confines of what is considered 'the greater good for all', and within functional law,” the statement added.
The religious leaders further asked the government to set up a psychosocial mechanism for those who have been found fasting, and those whose loved ones may be identified as victims of Mackenzie.
As of Thursday, April 27, the Shakahola death toll had risen to one hundred and ten after 11 bodies were exhumed with five of them reportedly belonging to children.
At the same time, Pastor Ezekiel Odero was arrested and arraigned in court after it emerged that he had links with Makenzie.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki is expected to visit Shakahola on Friday, April 27 to oversee the ongoing exhumation operation.
"The Government has upscaled the search and rescue efforts for persons suspected to be holed up in the thickets in Shakahola, Kilifi County. Returning to Shakahola this afternoon to oversee the ongoing operation. The multi-agency security team is doing its best to save as many lives as possible. A public information, tracing, and support centre has been established to offer assistance and receive enquiries from members of the public," Kithure stated.
