Shakahola Case: Key Suspect Pleads Guilty to Murdering 191 People
A key suspect in the Shakahola case has pleaded guilty to murdering 191 people, marking the first admission of responsibility in one of Kenya’s largest criminal trials.
Enos Amanya, also known as Hallelujah, entered the plea before the High Court in Mombasa, accepting 191 counts of murder. His decision ends nearly two years of denial since he and 28 others were charged in connection with the deaths linked to the Shakahola forest sect.
The plea places Amanya at the centre of the case involving self-proclaimed preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, whose teachings are alleged to have led followers to die through starvation, coercion and violence. Prosecutors say the killings occurred between January 2021 and September 2023 and were carried out as part of an organised and deliberate plan.
Appearing before Justice Diana Kavedza, Amanya admitted that he acted together with Mackenzie and other sect members. The prosecution told the court that Amanya played a key operational role within the forest compound, including digging graves and enforcing compliance with instructions issued by Mackenzie.
In a significant admission, Amanya acknowledged that some of the victims were his own children. He told the court that he buried them alongside his wife, who is also facing charges. One child, Izrael Veronica, survived after leaving the sect and seeking employment elsewhere.
Prosecutors described how the group used coded language to disguise the scale of the killings. Bodies were referred to as “fertiliser”, burials as “planting”, and death as “taking a jet” to meet Jesus. Followers reportedly affirmed Mackenzie’s orders by shouting “Amina”, reinforcing strict obedience within the group.
The court heard the names of several child victims, including Seth Hinzano Ngala, Evabra Dito Ngala and Patience Kahindi. Other victims were identified through initials and burial locations. The facts supporting the plea were presented through a statement recorded by Superintendent of Police Martin Ndegwa and read by a prosecution team led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Jami Yamina.
The prosecution said followers who questioned or resisted instructions were subjected to violence. According to Amanya’s admission, dissenters were restrained and beaten until they died. Prosecutors argued that these actions showed the killings were intentional and systematically enforced.
Justice Kavedza extended court hours to complete the plea-taking and reading of facts before convicting Amanya on his own admission. The court ordered that he be held separately at Shimo La Tewa Maximum Security Prison for his safety.
The judge also directed the Coast Regional Probation and Aftercare Service to prepare a victim impact assessment report, with specific attention to the surviving child. Pre-sentencing hearings involving victims’ witnesses are scheduled for early February.
The prosecution has formally closed its case after calling 120 witnesses, producing more than 500 exhibits and presenting six months of testimony.
