As the world celebrated the International Day of the African Child on Friday, government agencies and child rights organizations in Kilifi County had nothing to celebrate about.
They were trying to comprehend the reasons behind the high number of children who perished at the hands of people the society has all along regarded as the light and salt of world – the clergy.
According to them, the number of children who have perished in the infamous teachings of beleaguered Good News International Church preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie are more than adults.
Among those perturbed by the happenings in Shakahola, where Mackenzie’s more than 320 followers practiced piety by fasting to death, was Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Chairperson Anne Makori, who said the deaths were uncalled for.
“The worst calamity that can happen in society is the loss of children. Children have dreams and aspirations. They are the future of the nation and the society and therefore it is a tragedy if we lose children in such large numbers,” she lamented.
Mrs. Makori lauded President William Ruto for forming a commission of inquiry into the Shakahola deaths and pledged that her organization, which has representatives in the commission, would provide the necessary support.
“Any police officer who will be found culpable by acts of omission or commission would be dealt with in accordance with the law,” she said adding that IPOA would conduct thorough investigations to see if any officer was complicit in the matter.
She ruled out the narrative that the security personnel who were transferred to other places may escape justice saying whoever the commission of inquiry would indict would face the full force of the law.
“Being transferred doesn’t mean one is out of the country. We know where those who were transferred are and if they are found to have faltered in their duties, they will be brought to book,” she said.
Judith Mulei, an assistant county commissioner in the Malindi Deputy County Commissioner’s office, said that the government would ensure that families of children who perished in the fiasco get justice.
Hussein Khaled of Haki Africa and human rights activist Boniface Mwangi condemned the incidents that happened in the name of religion and called for speedy investigations that would bring to book those who collaborated with Mackenzie to commit the heinous crimes against children in Shakahola.
