A key witness in the Shakahola massacre case disclosed on Wednesday that she was coerced into providing false testimony in exchange for the dismissal of charges against her.
This revelation has dealt a significant blow to the prosecution's case, following the suspect’s detailed account of her experiences within Shakahola Forest the previous day.
The witness, referred to as JCK, unveiled distressing details about deaths within the forest and admitted she was compelled by her mother to undertake a 38-day fast. However, she has since retracted her statements. JCK also clarified that she is not a minor and has not completed her primary education.
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She alleges that intense pressure was placed upon her to deliver false testimony in court on Tuesday, with the promise that it would absolve her from any charges as a suspect in the Shakahola incident.
Under cross-examination by defense attorney Lawrence Obonyo, JCK revealed that following her mother’s decision to end her schooling, they never traveled to Nyali in Mombasa County, contradicting her earlier claims.
She further accused her mother, along with counselors and detectives investigating the massacre, of coaching her to provide fabricated information, assuring her of freedom from prosecution.
Subsequently, the former Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of Lango Baya Police Station testified, shedding light on how Mackenzie and his followers accessed Shakahola Forest, resulting in over 400 deaths.
As the case progresses, additional witnesses are anticipated to present their testimonies before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku.
