Fresh twist as Shakahola witness says she was coerced to give false information

The development which comes as a significant setback for the prosecution, follows the suspect's revelations about life inside Shakahola Forest on Tuesday.

The witness, identified as JCK, disclosed details about deaths and claimed she was forced by her mother to fast for 38 days, she recanted her statement. 

JCK revealed that she is not underage and did not complete her primary school education.

She alleges that she was pressured to provide false information and lied to the court on Tuesday with the promise that she would not face charges as a suspect in the Shakahola case.

During cross-examination by defence lawyer Lawrence Obonyo, JCK stated that after her mother terminated her schooling, they never went to Nyali, Mombasa County, as she had previously claimed.

She further claimed that her mother, counsellors, and detectives investigating the Shakahola massacre coached her, with the assurance that she would be set free.

Following the cross-examination, the former Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of Lango Baya Police Station took the stand to provide details on how Mackenzie and his followers entered Shakahola Forest, leading to the deaths of more than 400 people.

More witnesses are expected to testify before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku.