Kenya: Trial shows crucial role of religion in Shakahola massacre

I visited Chakaoula Forest with the activist who first revealed the scandal. He showed me the different villages scattered throughout the forest. Each of these villages was named after a holy place such as Bethlehem or Jerusalem. Paul McKenzie had created his own version of the Holy Land. Then he showed me the mass graves where the bodies were found after people were persuaded and sometimes forced to let themselves die, both children and adults. Later, I met with Paul McKenzie's lawyer, and he told me that Paul McKenzie was not responsible of the deaths of all these people, and that the verdict could have far-reaching consequences for Kenya. Who is responsible for a decision made after preaching has been done to you? And because we don't have regulation of religion in this country, Who determines what is the right scripture to preach? I feel like the freedom of religion is under attack. We do not have a guideline on who and how you should preach. Because even to become a preacher, you don't need to be qualified in terms of academics. He said that MPs should decide whether the law needs changing and whether certain sermons should be punishable. But a year ago, he was saying that it was not up to a court. Well, on Monday, the judge found Paul McKenzie and his co-defendants guilty. And one part of her verdict sparked controversy. She said that the book of Maccabees, which Paul McKenzie was using for his preachings, was not part of the Bible and that therefore the preachings were not biblical. But many challenged this claim, arguing that the book is recognized as a sacred scripture. So the ruling could reignite a broader debate. Can the court decide what is part of the Bible and what can be said in a sermon? Of course, in the upcoming days and weeks, both religious leaders and politicians will have their say. Bastian, where are we there for us in Kenya?