Shakahola Security Chief Confesses to Murder of 191 Children

A senior figure linked to the Shakahola forest tragedy has confessed to participating in the murder of women and children during the cult-related deaths that shocked the country three years ago.

Enos Amanya, described as the former head of security for ex-preacher Paul Mackenzie, told the High Court that he oversaw killings within the forest settlement that ultimately claimed more than 450 lives.

Appearing before the court, Amanya admitted to 191 counts of murder, becoming one of the first senior insiders to publicly acknowledge direct involvement in the deaths.

His confession marks a major development in the long-running case stemming from the discovery of mass graves in Shakahola Forest, where followers of Mackenzie’s movement were found buried after what investigators described as an organised death pact.

Courtroom Admission

In his testimony, Amanya detailed his role as both an enforcer and a gravedigger within the group.

Prosecutors said he was responsible for ensuring followers complied with the cult’s strict instructions, which included forced starvation and execution of those who resisted.

The court heard that Amanya used coded language with other members to coordinate operations. These codes were allegedly meant to disguise instructions that led to the deaths of women and children, many of whom were already weak from prolonged fasting. Among the victims, the court was told, were Amanya’s own children.

When asked to enter his plea, Amanya pleaded guilty to the murder charges, admitting he participated in acts that led to the deaths of hundreds of people.

The admission was entered into the record as prosecutors outlined how the cult leadership structured the killings and concealment of bodies inside the forest.

Link to Cult Leadership

Investigators say Amanya served under Paul Mackenzie, the former preacher accused of orchestrating the movement that encouraged followers to die in order to “meet Jesus.”

The prosecution described Amanya as a key operational figure tasked with maintaining order, punishing dissenters, and overseeing burials.

His testimony directly links the leadership of the cult to the deaths discovered in mass graves across Shakahola.

Authorities previously exhumed hundreds of bodies from the forest, many of them children, in one of the largest homicide investigations in the country’s history.

The case involves at least 29 other accused persons, including Mackenzie, who face multiple charges related to murder, radicalisation, and organised criminal activity.

Also read: Murkomen: This is Why Pastor Mackenzie Has a Phone in Remand

Following Amanya’s guilty plea, the presiding judge ordered that he be separated from the other co-accused for his own safety. The court also directed that a victim impact assessment be prepared to document the effect of the crimes on families of those who died.

With the confession now on record, the court is expected to move toward sentencing after reviewing reports on the scale of harm caused.

Prosecutors say the testimony provides critical insight into how the Shakahola deaths were carried out and who was responsible for enforcing the cult’s deadly directives.

The Shakahola case continues as one of the most complex and closely watched criminal proceedings in the country’s recent history.