President William Ruto reinforced the Shakahola Tragedy Commission of Inquiry team by appointing two more commissioners to join the team.
In a gazette notice dated Friday, May 12, Ruto appointed Abdullatif Essajee Khaderbhai and Hassan Ahmednur Baricha to serve as commissioners to help unravel the truth regarding Shakahola's mass deaths.
"It is notified for the general information of the public that His Excellency Hon. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces has appointed Abdullatif Essajee Khaderbhai and Hassan Ahmednur Baricha, as Commissioners of the Commission of Inquiry into the Shakahola Tragedy established vide Gazette Notice No. 5660 of 2023," a gazette notice signed by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei read in part.
The two commissioners will work in tandem with Lady Justice Jessie Lessit-led commission of inquiry to get to the bottom of the tragedy whose total body count exhumed from the forest topped 150.
Ruto bolstered the Shakahola Tragedy Commission of Inquiry team despite resistance from a section of the political elite, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The former Prime Minister filed a suit challenging Ruto's decision to appoint the commission arguing that he had usurped the powers of Parliament.
Raila further reprimanded the Head of State, informing him that only Parliament is mandated to establish a commission of inquiry to probe the Shakahola tragedy.
“We reiterate that only the Judicial Service Commission is empowered by the constitution to recruit qualified persons to serve in tribunals. The president has no powers to make any determination of the constitution of a court or an independent tribunal nor who sits in judgment in court or independent tribunal,” read part of the court documents filed by lawyer Paul Mwangi.
Despite sustained pressure from a section of religious leaders, Ruto also appointed four more members to the task force charged with reviewing the legal and regulatory framework of religious organisations in the country.
The new members appointed via the Gazette Notice included Mohammad Dori, Abdisalam Sheikh Mohamed, Sujurtha Kotamraju and Bishop Amos Lewa.
The four were appointed to work under former Member of Parliament for Mbeere South Constituency, Reverend Mutava Musyimi.
Before the appointments, Ruto had castigated Pastor Paul Mackenzie equating his actions of starving his followers in the name of fasting to terrorism.
Following his arrest, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced that the state was contemplating preferring genocide charges to the televangelist.
