All security officers and National Administration Officers who may have abetted or aided the Shakahola massacre must be held accountable, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has said.
The commission, in its report titled “Mashaka ya Shakahola” has recommended that stern action be taken against those found culpable.
This, it said, should include charging them with criminal negligence and individual responsibility.
“It is deplorable to note that Mackenzie was first arrested in 2017. The arrest should have triggered investigations that would have saved the lives of several people. This also amounts to violating the rights of children,” the commission said.
KNCHR particularly claimed there was gross abdication of duty and negligence.
“There was no proactiveness in collecting and acting on intelligence to forestall the massacre,” the commission said.
It claimed that numerous reports had also been filed at police stations.
The report reveals that concerns regarding alleged radicalization activities were raised during a meeting in November 2019, yet no action was taken.
The commission also highlighted the plight of individuals who attempted to raise the alarm about the unfolding crisis in Shakahola.
A former follower of Mackenzie recounted her desperate efforts to draw attention to the situation on social media in November 2022.
However, she faced intimidation and accusations of spreading baseless allegations.
At the same time, the organization has called on the government to facilitate the survivors to regain their vital documents destroyed as a result of indoctrination and radicalization.
The documents include IDs, title deeds, passports, birth, academic and marriage certificates.
KNCHR noted that pursuant to its constitutional mandate of promoting and protecting human rights, it embarked on a monitoring exercise from March 2023 to date on the Shakahola tragedy.
It followed the discovery of shallow graves found within Shakahola Forest, part of Chakama Ranch in Kilifi near Malindi.
The commission said its objective in monitoring the tragedy was to ensure transparency, accountability, and justice for the survivors and victims’ families.
