Today, the Ad Hoc Committee, spearheaded by Senator Shakila Abdalla, which is tasked with investigating the proliferation of Religious Organizations and the circumstances surrounding the distressing fatalities in Shakahola, undertook an investigative journey to Vihiga County. The committee's objective was to engage with various stakeholders, including the County Security and Intelligence Committee, families of the victims, local religious leaders, and non-governmental organizations, in order to accumulate crucial data and viewpoints on the ongoing inquiry.

The visit witnessed the committee's heart-rending interaction with seven victim families who unfolded their traumatic experiences post the Shakahola disaster. These narratives included gruelling journeys to Kilifi County, offering DNA samples, and an agonising identification process for their kin. Retrieval of their relatives proved arduous due to police custody, rehabilitation needs, and the intricate identification process involving DNA testing, leaving many families in a state of prolonged anguish.

Additionally, the impediment of travel expenses has precluded some families from reaching Kilifi, and in their local communities, they confront stigmatisation due to the Shakahola association. The stigma escalated to such an extent that these families are derogatorily referred to as 'Makenzi' or Shakahola.

Engagement with the County Security Intelligence Committee, chaired by the Vihiga County Commissioner, revealed that the documentation of Shakahola victims was incomplete. However, a preliminary report was shared, citing 16 casualties, seven individuals arraigned in court, and 14 people unaccounted for, with data gathered from relatives.

The Ad Hoc Committee, dissatisfied with the fragmentary report from the County Security Team, instructed them to collaborate with the local administration and their counterparts in Kilifi County. The objective is to generate a detailed list of affected families in a fortnight, during which time the County Police Commander was also tasked with documenting all reported missing persons in the county. Other directives included determining the number of survivors from Vihiga County, streamlining the deceased identification process, and considering local DNA collection to ease the financial burden on the affected families.

In the deliberations, the Vihiga County Religious Interfaith Forum stood firm on the adequacy of existing religious organisations regulations, advocating for church self-regulation. They acknowledged internal disagreements but expressed confidence in their resolution mechanisms, reiterating the church's commitment to ethical teachings.

Non-Governmental Organizations also weighed in, underscoring the distinction between church and state. They cautioned against regulations that could impinge on the religious freedoms provided by the bill of rights, underscoring Kenya's secular character.

Concerns were voiced about influential individuals potentially exploiting the masses, with church facades often camouflaging financial predations. In the extreme, such deceit can escalate to extortion and, horrifyingly, to homicide to conceal the misappropriation of assets, as in Paul Makenzi's case.

The committee extended a courtesy visit to the Vihiga County Executive, where Governor Wilber Otichilo advocated for rigorous vetting and accountability in church registration. The Governor further pressed for the reinforcement of regulations and proper leadership structure. He also reflected on the intertwined socio-economic fabric of religion in the county, flagging concerns over land subdivision-induced poverty and its role in commercialising religion, thereby perpetuating underdevelopment.

The committee learned that Vihiga County serves as the headquarter for several churches, including The African Church of Nineveh, The Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Church of God, Dini ya Msambwa, African Divine Church, Kenya Friends Church, and African Interior Church. However, these institutions have been marred by incessant infighting, and in the cases of The Pentecostal Assemblies of God and The African Israel Church of Nineveh, ongoing court cases over leadership disputes.

Senators Wafula Wakoli, Hamida Kibwana, and Veronicah Nduati accompanied Senator Shakila Abdalla, with local Senator Godfrey Osotsi attending as a committee friend.