The Ad Hoc Committee has invited members of the public and organizations to a public hearing on the Shakahola report.
The hearing is set to take place on Monday, 24 July 2023 from 9:30am to 1.00pm at the Mini Chamber, County Hall Nairobi.
Participants are urged to submit their memoranda to the clerk of the senate before the hearing date.
Moreover, the Ad Hoc Committee was set aside to investigate the proliferation of religious organizations and the circumstance leading to the deaths of more than 95 people in Shakahola, Kilifi County.
According to Article 118(1)(b) of the constitution and the Senate Standing Orders require Parliament to facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of parliament and its committees.
As such, the Senate established an Ad Hoc Committee on a sitting held on 27 April,2023.
Roles of the Ad Hoc Committee
The Committee is mandated to investigate the circumstances leading to the deaths of the followers of the Good News International Church led by controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie Nthenge in Shakahola village.
In addition, the Ad Hoc committee was tasked to investigate the role played by Mackenzie, his pastoral team and the Kilifi County Security Committee in aiding and abetting the deaths of the Good News International Church congregants.
The committee was to further establish through the office of the Registrar of Societies, the number, and activities of religious groups in the country including their registration and compliance status.
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Additionally, the committee was mandated to audit the legal and registration framework for religious organizations in the country and develop a legislative proposal on regulation of religious activities.
Lastly, it was assigned to make any other recommendation that will prevent religious organization from extreme indoctrination of their followers including radicalization, spiritual and financial exploitation.
Updates on Shakahola deaths
In the meantime, the Shakahola death toll has crossed the four hundred-mark after 12 more bodies were exhumed by the Directorate of Criminal Updates (DCI) homicide detectives on Monday July 17.
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The bodies were exhumed from five graves at an area where the where followers of Paul Mackenzie used to pray and hold meetings.
However, Coast Regional Commissioner Ms. Rhoda Onyancha said exhumation will continue deepening in the bodies, hence more bodies might be found.
The number of those missing remains at 613.
