President William Ruto, on Friday, May 5, appointed a Commission of Inquiry to dig facts about the death and burial of more than 110 people whose bodies were buried at Shakahola Forest.
In a Gazette Notice, President Ruto charged Lady Justice Jessie Lessit to lead the team to unravel the truth behind the tragedy.
Other members of the team included Lady Justice (Rtd.) Mary Muhanji Kasango, Eric Gumbo, Bishop Catherine Mutua, Jonathan Lodompui (Dr.), Frank Njenga (Dr.), Wanyama Musiambu and Albert Musasia.
The Joint Secretaries were Oliver Kipchumba Karori, Rachel Maina, while the Lead Counsel was Kioko Kilukumi.
At the same time, Ruto appointed Assisting Counsel to be Vivian Janet Nyambeki and Bahati Mwamuye, who will provide legal advice to the Commission of Inquiry.
The Head of State lamented that Shakahola Massacre was unfair to many families that lost loved ones in Kilifi.
Presidential Orders:
The Head of State asked the team to inquire into the death, torture, and inhumane and degrading treatment of members and other persons linked to the Good News International Church in Kilifi County.
Justice Lessit-led commission will also establish the circumstances under which the deaths, torture, and inhumane and degrading treatment occurred.
The commission will also inquire into the legal, institutional, administrative, security, and intelligence lapses that may have contributed to the occurrence of the Shakahola Tragedy.
President Ruto asked the commission to identify, based on the evidence laid before the Commission, the persons and organizations who bear the greatest responsibility for the Shakahola Tragedy, and to recommend specific actions that should be taken against them, including admonition. regulatory actions, reparations, or recommendations for criminal investigation.
The commission should also recommend legal, administrative, or other forms of accountability action against any public official whose actions or omissions are established to have willfully or negligently contributed to the occurrence of the Shakahola Tragedy.
Ruto further ordered the commission to inquire into the factors that lead to the rise of that particular religious extremist institution and the factors that give rise to such religious extremist institutions, cults, occultist groups, and other formations that foster negative religion-based activities generally.
He as well directed the commission to recommend legal, administrative, institutional, and regulatory reforms aimed at preventing the occurrence of future situations of deaths or gross violations of the rights and welfare of persons by religious extremist institutions, cults, or occultist groups, and other formations that foster negative religion-based activities.
The commission will also consider, perform, or advise on any other matter or subject ancillary to the above.
"In the discharge of its functions, the Commission shall receive views from members of the public, receive oral or written statements from any person with relevant information and may use official reports of previous investigations.
"Use any investigation report by any institution or organisation," Ruto stated in a Gazette Notice dated Friday, May 5, 2023.
