- A former officer shared shocking details on children killed after fasting didn’t work
- Graves were found empty before one child’s body was located elsewhere
- DNA test confirmed the identity of one of the victims
- A heartbroken father told how his wife followed the cult and abandoned their children’s education
- She removed her sick mother from the hospital and later rejoiced at their child’s death
- Over 440 bodies have so far been recovered from Shakahola, many showing signs of torture and starvation
In a disturbing court session, Senior Sergeant Joseph Yator shared details about how two young children were allegedly killed by their mothers after being starved as part of a deadly cult ritual in Shakahola. When the children didn’t die from the forced fasting, the mothers reportedly suffocated them to death—acts said to be part of Paul Mackenzie’s cult teachings.
Yator said he got a court order to open the children’s graves but was shocked to find them empty. Later, one of the children’s remains was discovered at a separate location, and a DNA test showed a 99% match to the family, confirming the identity and pointing to a possible cover-up attempt by the cult.
Father’s Painful Story of Family Loss
The court also listened to Julius Kiprotich, who described how his life changed completely after his wife Alice Kawira joined Mackenzie’s group. He said Alice threw away their children’s school items, pulled them out of school in Eldoret, and secretly took them to Shakahola without telling him.
Kiprotich shared how his wife also took her sick mother out of hospital care, dumped her medicines claiming they were from “Satan,” and shockingly celebrated the death of their secondborn child, believing it was a sign of spiritual success.
Backing his story, Kiprotich’s mother, Hellena, told the court how Alice’s actions destroyed their once-peaceful family.
So far, over 440 bodies have been dug up from Shakahola forest, many showing signs of severe hunger and physical abuse, painting a grim picture of what went on in the cult’s hideout
