The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) in Kenya has charged preacher Paul Makenzi and 95 of his followers with murder over the Shakahola massacre.

The tragic event, claiming the lives of 429 individuals, is now at the forefront of legal proceedings following extensive investigations and evidence analysis.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, January 16, the ODPP outlined the various charges brought against Makenzi and his accomplices.

These include murder under the Penal Code (Section 203), assault causing bodily harm (Section 251), contraventions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Prevention of Organized Crimes Act, and manslaughter accusations (Section 202 with 205).

"Upon perusal of all the inquiry files and thorough analysis of the evidence, the ODPP is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to charge all the 95 suspects who are currently in custody with the following offences," the statement read in part. 

Furthermore, the suspects face accusations of radicalization under Section 12D of the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2012.

The ODPP emphasises the urgency of these proceedings, stating, "The DPP has therefore directed that the suspects be presented before the High Court and Subordinate Court forthwith. The ODPP undertakes to expeditiously prosecute the matters in view of the great public interest involved.”

It's worth noting that Makenzi was previously sentenced to a year and a half in prison on December 1, 2023, for illegally distributing unrated films during his radical sermons. He also received a six-month sentence for operating a film studio without a valid license. 

The Shakahola massacre sparked outrage and grief across Kenya, making the ODPP's announcement a crucial step towards closure and accountability. By Mate Tongola, The Standard

By MOSES MUTUA 

As Kenyans bid goodbye to the holiday season and welcome the new year, there is still little to smile about with the Kenya’s economy still biting. The low-income households in particular are feeling the pinch of surge of prices of basic commodities. This group, which spends about 60% of their income on food is constantly lamenting on how life in urban areas is becoming unbearable. 

Erick Okutoyi, a boda boda rider at Kibera divulged that the transport sector had also taken a hit of the ripple effect of the high cost of living. “My business has been affected a lot. When fuel prices were going up every month, I was forced to up my prices so as to meet the skyrocketing costs. A distance that used cost Ksh.50 went up to Ksh.100. I lost regular customers who sought alternative means,” said the soft speaking boda boda rider.

Like any other Kenyan, Erick is struggling just to make ends meet. “This boda boda is not mine. I have hired it and I have to pay Ksh.500 per day. I have a family and they are all depending on me. Children are going back to school. The Ksh.1000 I make in a day is not sufficient enough to pay the boda boda owner, pay rent, feed my family and take my children to school. Books are expensive, uniforms and school fees are still high,” said Erick.

“I don’t even take lunch so as minimize on my expenditures. Most times I have to work past midnight just to get some extra cash to settle the overwhelming bills,” added Erick.

Despite the array of challenges, he is going through, Erick believes that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“Through the Kibra Boda boda Sacco, I was registered and trained on electric motorcycle. I am happy by the end of January I will be receiving an electric bike,” reiterated Erick. “These bikes are affordable and cost friendly. With a small deposit and daily pay of Ksh.450, I will be able to fully own a motorcycle in 3 months,” he added.

“The advantage of these bikes is that with only Ksh.200, I will be able to get a battery swap that can last me all day. When I compare this to fuel, it is cheaper and it will increase my profit margins. I believe things will get better. The government should also do something,” added Erick.

Erick is one of many Kenyans grappling with the cost of living. The consumption habits of many people have been altered. Times are hard. And as the government is emphasizing on the importance of robust revenue collection for self-sustainability and economic development through taxation, it ought to be reminded that it is the common Mwananchi that bears the weight of all this.

Miriam Cates and Jacob Rees-Mogg during voting in the House of Commons voting© Sky News Screen Grab

Rishi Sunak has been dealt a fresh blow to his authority as 68 MPs, including 60 Tories, voted in favour of changes to his Rwanda Bill put forward by Conservative backbencher Sir Bill Cash.

The amendment, seeking to ensure UK and international law cannot be used to block a person being removed to Rwanda, was rejected by a majority of 461.

But the rebellion gives an indication of the scale of unease within the Conservative Party during an election year.

Below is a full list of the Conservatives who voted for the amendment:

Adam Afriyie - Windsor

Lee Anderson - Ashfield

Sarah Atherton - Wrexham

Sir Jake Berry - Rossendale and Darwen

Bob Blackman - Harrow East

Ben Bradley - Mansfield

Suella Braverman - Fareham

Jack Brereton - Stoke-on-Trent South

Paul Bristow - Peterborough

Sir Bill Cash - Stone

Miriam Cates - Penistone and Stocksbridge

Rehman Chishti - Gillingham and Rainham

Sir Christopher Chope - Christchurch

Sir Simon Clarke - Middlesborough South and East Cleveland

Brendan Clarke-Smith - Bassetlaw

Philip Davies - Shipley

Sarah Dines - Derbyshire Dales

Richard Drax - South Dorset

Sir James Duddridge - Rochford and Southend East

Sir Iain Duncan Smith - Chingford and Woodford Green

Michael Fabricant - Lichfield

Nick Fletcher - Don Valley

Kevin Foster - Torbay

Mark Francois - Rayleigh and Wickford

Chris Green - Bolton West

James Grundy - Leigh

Jonathan Gullis - Stoke-on-Trent North

Sir John Hayes - South Holland and the Deepings

Darren Henry - Broxtowe

Philip Hollobone - Kettering

Adam Holloway - Gravesham

Eddie Hughes - Walsall North

Tom Hunt - Ipswich

Robert Jenrick - Newark

Caroline Johnson - Sleaford and North Hykeham

David Jones - Clwyd West

Danny Kruger - Devizes

Andrew Lewer - Northampton South

Marco Longhi - Dudley North

Jonathan Lord - Woking

Craig Mackinlay - South Thanet

Karl McCartney - Lincoln

Robin Millar - Aberconwy

Anne Marie Morris - Newton Abbot

Jill Mortimer - Hartlepool

Wendy Morton - Aldridge-Brownhills

Lia Nici - Great Grimsby

Neil O'Brien - Harborough

Dr Matthew Offord - Hendon

Tom Randall - Gedling

John Redwood - Wokingham 

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg - North East Somerset

Laurence Robertson - Tewksbury

Gary Sambrook - Birmingham, Northfield

Greg Smith - Buckingham

Henry Smith - Crawley

Jane Stevenson - Wolverhampton North East

Sir Desmond Swayne - New Forest West

Liz Truss - South West Norfolk

Sir Bill Wiggin - North Herefordshire Sky News