Psychologist tells Tononoka Court of Shakahola survivors’ deep trauma

Shakahola Forest /HANDOUT

A leading clinical psychologist has given a harrowing testimony at the Tononoka law courts, detailing the severe mental health effects endured by children who survived the Shakahola massacre three years ago.

Dr Florence Mueni, a clinical psychologist and play therapist, told principal magistrate Nelly Chepchirchir that the minors suffered psychological trauma from prolonged starvation, forced isolation, religious indoctrination and exposure to death.

“One child experiences recurring nightmares and intrusive memories of witnessing people die,” she said.

“He becomes visibly distressed when recalling moments of trauma, including being tied to a tree.”

Mueni was part of a team of volunteer counselors who supported the rescued children, uncovering distressing accounts of cruelty and torture within Shakahola forest.

The team worked with 13 children who shared stories of being ordered not to cry as their siblings and parents succumbed to starvation.

She told the court that the children displayed classic symptoms of trauma and traumatic grief.

Some suffered from stress disorders, uncontrollable anger and recurring nightmares linked to the suffering and deaths they witnessed.

“In one case, a child described his brother’s death — which he witnessed — as the most painful experience,” Mueni testified.

She said many children displayed memory gaps and signs of cognitive fatigue, often attributed to dizziness and physical weakness during fasting periods.

One child reportedly said he experienced fear, anger, shame and lost interest in activities he once enjoyed.

“Their bodies exhibited what we call a collapse response — a trauma reaction where the system shuts down due to extreme stress or danger,” Mueni said.

Some of the children were deeply radicalised and initially panicked at the mere mention of Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s name.

However, through months of therapy and psychosocial support, most of the minors began to recover, gained confidence and gradually resumed schooling.

In a separate testimony, chief Raymond Msindah recounted a series of disturbing developments that eventually led to the discovery of the massacre.

He said he had received reports of children at Shakahola forest not attending school.

Villagers reported that three children had escaped and were being sheltered by elders Joseph Sulubu and Changawa Mangi.

Chief Msindah alerted the children’s officers, leading to a court-ordered transfer of the minors to children’s homes.

During a fact-finding mission to the forest, Msindah was forced to retreat after encountering a group of armed men.

He immediately reported the sighting to the police, which prompted a raid in the area.

Msindah also identified Evans Sirya — one of the accused — as among those he saw in the company of Pastor Mackenzie’s associates within the forest.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The Shakahola massacre continues to expose the devastating psychological toll cultic extremism has on children.

Testimony from Dr. Florence Mueni reveals not only the brutality inflicted on minors — starvation, indoctrination, and forced silence — but also the long road to healing.

The resilience shown through therapy and eventual reintegration into schooling is powerful, yet the depth of trauma remains alarming.