The Senate Committee Probing the Shakahola massacre has called upon the government to deploy additional search and rescue personnel to haste the rescue operation in Shakahola forest where 235 bodies have so far been exhumed.
The Committee led by Tanariver Senator Danson Mungatana described the scene as horrific and an Act of genocide.
Addressing journalists after the tour and brief meeting with the security team conducting the rescue operation and exhumation he said as a committee they will do what it can to tell Kenyans exactly what happened.
“These are not statistics we have come face to face with the depth of our people who died here, we have come face to face with the skeletons of people who were found here, we have come face to face with the ugly side of radicalization and the misuse of religion,” he said.
Mungatana said the committee intends to visit different the country where rogue Pastor Paul Mackenzie reportedly had branches of his Good News International Church.
The Senators called upon Kenyans, wherever they may be, to provide any information that will help unravel the mystery behind the radical teachings of the Pastor.
“We have been able today to visit the place known as Galilea where Mr. Mackenzie was having his house, we have been able to see where he would institute punishment and judgement to his followers in the name of religion,” he said.
“For the remaining days of the 90 days we will execute this mandate and we will come up with a good report and we are promising Kenyans this will not happen again,” he said.
The Chairman said they have been reliably informed that there are other forces behind the cultic teachings and vowed to go to the bottom of the matter.
He said they were not a Judicial commission or a court and would collect all the information they will get to be used in their report to make a legislative framework on how religious institutions will operate.
The legislator said there were complaints from locals that they reported to Police but action was not taken as fast as it was.
He said they are waiting for the Department of Police dealing with international affairs to submit their report after completing their report which will be part of the senate report and all those who will be mentioned shall be dealt with in accordance to the law.
Mungatana was accompanied by His Vice Chair and Nominated Senator Shakila Abdalla, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, Tabitha Mutinda (nominated) Faki Mohamed (Mombasa), William Cheptumo (Baringo), Veronica Maina (nominated), Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Hamida Kibwana.
