In summary
- Ruto who was speaking during the Prison Officers Pass Out has gone ahead and described Mackenzie as a terrorist who belongs in jail.
- Ruto has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and other security agencies to carry out thorough investigations
President William Ruto has called for the prosecution of Malindi Pastor Paul Mackenzie after 47 bodies of his followers were exhumed.
Ruto who was speaking during the Prison Officers Pass Out has gone ahead and described Mackenzie as a terrorist who belongs in jail.
Ruto has also taken a swipe at religious leaders with controversial teachings like asking their followers not to go to the hospital when sick and asking children not to go to school.
“What we are seeing in Kilifi, Shakahola, is akin to terrorism. There is no difference between Mr Mackenzie who pretends and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal. Terrorists use religion to advance their heinous acts. People like Mr Mackenzie are using religion to do exactly the same thing,” said Ruto.
“Look out for those who want to abuse even the religious sector by masquerading as religious people yet what they do is contrary to the teachings and to the beliefs of the religion whether they are Christians, Muslims or any other religion.
DCI ordered to investigate religious leaders
Ruto has directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and other security agencies to carry out thorough investigations against religious leaders using places of worship to commit the heinous acts.
“I want to say that I have instructed the agencies responsible to take up the matter and to get to the root course and to the bottom of the people who want to use religion to advance weird unacceptable ideology in the Republic of Kenya that is coursing unnecessary loss of lives,” he added.
Kindiki’s planned visit
Ruto’s remarks come ahead of Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome’s expected visit to Shakahola forest.
On Sunday Interior CS Kithure Kindiki declared Shakahola forest a crime scene describing the killings a massacre.
“The unfolding Shakahola Forest Massacre is the clearest abuse of the constitutionally enshrined human right to freedom of worship. Prima facie, large- scale crimes under Kenyan law as well as international law have been committed. While the State remains respectful of religious freedom, this horrendous blight on our conscience must lead not only to the most severe punishment of the perpetrator(s) of the atrocity on so many innocent souls, but tighter regulation (including self- regulation) of every church, mosque, temple or synagogue going forward,” said Kindiki.
