Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki is among top government officials expected to testify before a Senate Ad-hoc committee investigating the proliferation of cultic religious organisations and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 110 people in Shakahola, Kilifi County.
The committee, which has 90 days to report to the House, will begin public hearings next week with CS Kindiki, Attorney General Justin Muturi, and the Registrar of Societies in the Attorney General’s Office.
Among the issues the committee will seek to establish from the officers are the registration status of religious organisations, mitigation measures for the current case, and any regulations used to control religious entities and their activities.
The committee will also look into the role of controversial self-declared pastor Paul Mackenzie, his pastoral team, and Kilifi County security agencies in the deaths of Good News International church members.
The committee will then travel to Kilifi to meet with the county government and its leadership, as well as the County Commissioner and the security team.
The committee will also pay a visit to Shakahola Forest, where they will meet with families of the cult’s victims.
It will also pay a visit to the New Life Prayer Centre in Mavueni, Kilifi County, which is linked to Pastor Ezekiel Odero, who is currently detained by police and scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana and his Nominated counterpart Shakila Abdalla were elected to chair the committee after the committee’s first meeting to elect their leadership.
The committee was formed after Senators approved a motion introduced in the House by Majority Whip Boni Khalwale, who is also the Senator for Kakamega.
