DPP closes first case in Shakahola massacre trial after 76 witnesses
Some of the witnesses during the hearing of Shakahola case on 17th September 2025 Photo/ODPP
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has closed its case in the Shakahola massacre trial against controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 35 co-accused.
The case, centred on crimes against children, began on 24 July 2024 at the Tononoka Children’s Court. Over 14 months, the Prosecution called 76 witnesses to testify before Principal Magistrate Ms Nelly Chepchirchir.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Mr Jami Yamina led the team with Principal Prosecution Counsels Mr Victor Owiti and Ms Betty Rubia, and Prosecution Counsels Ms Biasha Khalifa and Ms Eunice Odongo.
The accused face charges of cruelty to children, torture, and denial of the right to education.
On the final day, three witnesses testified. Mr Dennis Muriithi, a Data Analyst at Safaricom PLC, told the court the company had complied with a court order to release call data, M-Pesa registration details and other records, including numbers registered to Mackenzie.
Ms Israel Veronica, 21, recounted being withdrawn from school in 2019 when her father, one of the accused, declared education sinful. Her family later sold all their belongings and relocated to Shakahola.
Inspector Ms Phoebe Okomo of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations – Children Protection Unit in Mombasa described the rescue and assessment of 27 children aged between one-and-a-half and 17 years.
She said the children narrated being forced into fasting, denied food, and sometimes beaten. Many had been withdrawn from school.
Inspector Okomo told the court the children identified Mackenzie during a parade and described life in estates named Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem, where prayers and burials were held under a large tree.
She detailed the physical and psychological toll, including one child who required corrective surgery. She noted that counselling was provided by Play Therapy Kenya and the Director of Children Services due to the trauma suffered.
The Prosecution closed its case by thanking the court, the defence, and witnesses.
Mackenzie and his co-accused still face separate charges of murder, manslaughter and terrorism at the Mombasa High Court, Mombasa Law Court and Shanzu Law Courts.
The matter will be mentioned on 14 October 2025 to confirm if proceedings have been typed for submissions.
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