"Government should have acted earlier," opposition reacts over the Mackenzie cult saga

Minority Leader, Opiyo Wandayi when he addressed the press at Parliament buildings in Nairobi, Monday, April, 24. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The opposition now blames the government for not having taken action against cult leader Paul Makenzie Nthenge earlier.

In a statement dated April 24, Minority Leader, Opiyo Wandayi said a public inquiry is needed on the security and intelligence systems following the Shakahola massacre and that the deaths could have been avoided if the criminal justice system worked.

"The Shakahola massacre requires that we evaluate our security and intelligence systems. We must re-evaluate our intelligence system and redefine what it considers to constitute national security. We need a public inquiry on our security and intelligence systems regarding this massacre," Wandayi stated.

". It is an unforgivable failure of security intelligence that, in theory, extends from Nairobi all the way to the Shakahola and every village in Kenya, ending with the chiefs, assistant chiefs, village elders and Nyumba Kumi heads. This system failed and Kenyans deserve to know why," he added.

The minority leader added that the members of the state officers must be audited and vetted to establish how their inaction could have led to the incidences.

"We must audit the members of the National Government Administration Offices and how their inaction could have led to this pain and shame. This burger (sic) was in court in 2017 for radicalizing children, was released to the disappointment of the security officers," he added.

"Six years later, he is nabbed, taken to court, released despite the evidence given by the prosecution team. I think the security wing feels discouraged by the court action."

Wandayi mentioned that they (the opposition) support the tight regulations on religious organisations however the court action should not be an excuse for the state to impose unnecessary restrictions on religions that are genuine.

"We support the tight regulations on religious organizations. However, this should not be an excuse for the state to impose unnecessary restrictions on genuine religions," Wandayi said.

Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo also alleged that the national intelligence was unable to perform its duties.

"This religion even has people from Nigeria, we do not know how they entered Kenya. The police officers were sloppy in their job," Madzayo claimed.