Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Kituo cha Sheria has moved to the High Court to seek compensation for victims of the Shakahola massacre in Kilifi county.

The lobby group has sued the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Attorney General, the Inspector General of the National Police Service, Interior Cabinet Secretary and the county government of Kilifi over the deaths at Shakahola village.

In suit papers, the lobby group accuses the government of failing in its duty to protect the victims who lost their lives and were buried at the said village.

The lobby group argues that the acts of the church associated with controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie were well known as it had its own television station that aired disturbing content akin to religious radicalization. “It appears that the actions and methodology of the church appear to have been missed by all the respondents who have the duty to provide the people of the Republic a sense of security,” claims Kituo cha Sheria in court documents.

Through lawyer Dr John Khaminwa, the lobby group argues that the government failed in their duties as provided for in the National Intelligence Service Act, the Police Act and Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya.

“That it is clear that with the machinery at their disposal the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents should have been able to prevent the senseless deaths of the followers of the Church,” reads court papers

Kituo cha Sheria further claims that failure by the national government to gather intelligence on Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s church and its activities is a breach of the right to freedom.