High Court Orders Shakahola Suspect to Record Fresh Confession Over 429 Deaths Due to Procedural Gaps
Quote from Lawyer on January 16, 2026, 5:57 amIn a significant development in the ongoing Shakahola massacre trial, the High Court has directed a key suspect to provide a new confession to address serious flaws in his earlier statement.
The ruling came on January 15, 2026, from Lady Justice Diana Mochache at the Mombasa High Court. The suspect, Enos Amanya, also known as Haleluya, is the seventh accused in the case involving the deaths of 429 people in the Shakahola forest between 2020 and 2023. Amanya served as part of the security team for alleged mastermind Paul Nthenge Mackenzie.
The court found that the initial confession recorded from Amanya failed to meet legal standards. Key issues included its incomplete nature, omission of essential details about the crimes, overly general questions that did not probe specific roles or events, missing pages from the 33-page document, and a lack of clear self-implication. Additionally, the statement was taken between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, a time when Amanya was exhausted after court proceedings, raising concerns about its reliability.
Amanya's defense lawyer, Kelvin Lisanza, applied for the fresh confession, arguing that the original version did not capture critical information needed for the case. The prosecution, led by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph Kimanthi alongside assistants Jami Yamina and Ngina Mutua, supported the request. They noted that the earlier confession did not adequately address the circumstances of the massacre or the accused's involvement.
Under the court's order, Amanya must record a detailed new confession at the Coast Regional Directorate of Criminal Investigations offices. The process will occur under the supervision of the investigating officer, using focused and specific questions. To ensure fairness and legal safeguards, Amanya will be accompanied by his daughter or another witness of his choice. The fresh statement must cover the crimes committed during the 2020-2023 period linked to the Shakahola deaths.
Amanya has previously expressed willingness to confess, stating his desire to assist in delivering justice for the victims and their families. Prosecutors suggested that if the new confession leads to a guilty plea, it could expedite sentencing. Alternatively, the court may adopt the statement as part of his examination-in-chief to advance the trial.
The Shakahola case involves Amanya and 29 other suspects, including Mackenzie, who face 191 counts of murder related to the tragic events. Followers allegedly starved to death or were killed under the influence of apocalyptic teachings that promised heavenly reward through fasting.
This order marks a step toward clarifying evidence in one of Kenya's most harrowing criminal cases, as the trial continues to seek accountability for the massive loss of life in the remote forest.
In a significant development in the ongoing Shakahola massacre trial, the High Court has directed a key suspect to provide a new confession to address serious flaws in his earlier statement.
The ruling came on January 15, 2026, from Lady Justice Diana Mochache at the Mombasa High Court. The suspect, Enos Amanya, also known as Haleluya, is the seventh accused in the case involving the deaths of 429 people in the Shakahola forest between 2020 and 2023. Amanya served as part of the security team for alleged mastermind Paul Nthenge Mackenzie.
The court found that the initial confession recorded from Amanya failed to meet legal standards. Key issues included its incomplete nature, omission of essential details about the crimes, overly general questions that did not probe specific roles or events, missing pages from the 33-page document, and a lack of clear self-implication. Additionally, the statement was taken between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, a time when Amanya was exhausted after court proceedings, raising concerns about its reliability.
Amanya's defense lawyer, Kelvin Lisanza, applied for the fresh confession, arguing that the original version did not capture critical information needed for the case. The prosecution, led by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joseph Kimanthi alongside assistants Jami Yamina and Ngina Mutua, supported the request. They noted that the earlier confession did not adequately address the circumstances of the massacre or the accused's involvement.
Under the court's order, Amanya must record a detailed new confession at the Coast Regional Directorate of Criminal Investigations offices. The process will occur under the supervision of the investigating officer, using focused and specific questions. To ensure fairness and legal safeguards, Amanya will be accompanied by his daughter or another witness of his choice. The fresh statement must cover the crimes committed during the 2020-2023 period linked to the Shakahola deaths.
Amanya has previously expressed willingness to confess, stating his desire to assist in delivering justice for the victims and their families. Prosecutors suggested that if the new confession leads to a guilty plea, it could expedite sentencing. Alternatively, the court may adopt the statement as part of his examination-in-chief to advance the trial.
The Shakahola case involves Amanya and 29 other suspects, including Mackenzie, who face 191 counts of murder related to the tragic events. Followers allegedly starved to death or were killed under the influence of apocalyptic teachings that promised heavenly reward through fasting.
This order marks a step toward clarifying evidence in one of Kenya's most harrowing criminal cases, as the trial continues to seek accountability for the massive loss of life in the remote forest.