Shakahola: Families want security officers held accountable for ignoring Mackenzie's activities

While some have welcomed the sentences, others believe Mackenzie deserved an even harsher punishment.

The families want security officers who failed to detect the atrocities in Shakahola forest held to account.

Despite some relief to the victims' families, the quest for justice remains far from over, as they question how several state agencies failed to prevent the Shakahola tragedy.

“The sentence is okay but it has only addressed criminality and not institutional justice...kuna maafisa waliona watu wakifa wakinyimwa chakula..kulikuwa na ocs kulikuwa na OCPD walikuwa wapi haya yakiendelea,” Roseline Asena told Citizen TV.

Roseline lost her brother, his wife and their five children. She says Mackenzie’s sentence does little to ease her pain, particularly as those entrusted with protecting lives have yet to be held accountable.

“Tunaamini mahakama imeefanya hatua ya kwanza tuanze mjadala wa hatua ya pili. Tuangalie waliosimama wakaangalia kile kilikuwa kinatendeka watachukuliwa hatua gani,” she added.

For families still living with the trauma of the tragedy, the inability to bury their loved ones has only deepened their anguish, denying them the closure they desperately seek.

Roseline says it has cost them a lot both emotionally and mentally: “Ukifungulia TV uone mackenzie is so traumatizing. How I wish tungeelekezwa twende ofisi fulani tupewe majibu.”

Another victim, Michael Ruwa, who lost seven family members, the sentence is simply not enough.

“Kivyangu angehukumiwa kinyonga. Haki za watoto haijapatikana kikamilifu, he said.

They are now demanding compensation, insisting the liquidation of Mackenzie's assets and the proceeds used to compensate the victims' families.

“Kuna kanisa kuna mashamba ya mackenzie ambayo serikali ingeuza na kupewa sisi tuliofiwa,” Ruwa added.

While the verdict has brought some relief, the families are left holding on to photographs of their loved ones as the only lasting reminders of those they lost.