Saturday, October 21, 2023 –Police bosses in Kilifi County have been put on the spot over the massive killings that took place in Shakahola Kilifi County.
Findings by the Senate Ad hoc Committee led by Senator Danston Mungatana has summoned the senior cops in the area for interrogation.
In a report compiled by the committee, senior police bosses, including the former County Police Commander Jecinta Wesonga, were found to have failed in their mandate to stop the killings despite serving in the area.
“The Committee observed that due to a warning by the county security committee in 2022, Paul Mackenzie changed tact and minimized his radical teachings. He claimed to be a farmer, that he was no longer associated with the church or preaching,” a commitee report read in part.
Other officers named in the 175-page report include former Malindi Sub-County Police Commander (SCPC), Senior County Criminal Investigation Officer and Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit bosses.
The Senate Committe has also targeted former Malindi, Langobaya Officers Commanding Station (OCSs) and controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie who is currently in custody.
“Evidence availed to the Committee indicates that the Kilifi County Security Committee had prior knowledge of Paul Mackenzie’s activities but failed to act on the information,” the report read in part.
Mungatana-led Committee, therefore, wants the National Police Service NPS to impose the sanctions within 30 days after the Senate adopts the report.
It did not spare Interior Cabinet Secretary CS Kithure Kindiki for rushing to transfer the police bosses immediately the massacre was been reported.
The Committee argued that the said officers ought to have been investigated rather than being moved elsewhere.
It argued that moving questionable policemen to other areas was away of moving a problem from one area to another.
In fact, the Committee argued that the officers ought to have been suspended for a while during investigations.
The said police men would have been instrumental in proving crucial information on what they knew about Pastor Paul Mackenzie and his accomplices around Kilifi County.