Govt Pathologist Johansen Oduor Fined Ksh 500K Over Deaths

Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor has been fined Ksh500,000 by the Senate committee investigating Shakahola deaths.

Led by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, the committee stated that the Oduor failed to honor their invitation for the second time.

Additionally, the committee stated that Oduor did not issue them with an apology or reason for failing to honor the invite. 

“It is the order of this committee that the fine is still holding, and he must pay the fine personally. It is not the ministry that will pay it on his behalf.

As far as him not being able to come here, the Senate plenary will give further direction on what to do,” stated Mungatana. 

Further, the committee stated that they expected the pathologist to explain his findings on the Shakahola probe. The information was meant to be used for their report on the case.

  Also Read: Kenyans Invited to Give Views on Shakahola as Deaths Cross 400

Paul Mackenzie Before the Senate Committee

At the same time, the committee expressed its dissatisfaction by the prisons department for failing to present the main suspect, Pastor Paul Mackenzie as requested. 

Mackenzie was expected to appear before the committee to give his version of events under the protection of the Senate, to help the committee write its report on the case. 

However, the prisons department and Mackenzie’s lawyers wrote to the committee indicating that they could not present the suspect because of logistical issues. 

“If I were his lawyer, I would have wanted him to appear before the committee with the privilege of the Senate and the protection of the Senate to say his side of the story,” noted Mungatana.

Also Read: Psychiatrists Call for Rehabilitation of Shakahola Survivors

Families Demand Update of Bodies of Loved Ones from Pathologist

The news came even as families whose bodies of their kin were exhumed from the Shakahola forest demanded for the release of the DNA profiles of the bodies to help with burial plans. 

On October 15, the families accused the government of leaving them stranded by failing to issue any update on the matter. 

Additionally, some of them wondered whether to abandon the bodies and move on with their lives or wait for an update from the government.

Suspects Exchanging Letters in Prison

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions noted that the Shakahola suspects had been writing and exchanging letters in prison to encourage each other to continue fasting.

Prison authorities claimed they intercepted correspondence dated July 22, 2023, that encouraged fasting until death as the only way to get to heaven.

“From a reading of the contents of the correspondence, the police have reasonable grounds to believe that it contains religious instructions emanating from an extreme belief system,

“That is the subject of investigations into the Shakahola massacre,” Chief Inspector Raphael Wanjohi stated in an affidavit filed in court.