The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has urged the High Court to adopt an innovative sentencing approach for Enos Amanya, commonly known as “Haleluya,” who was convicted in the Shakahola massacre case.
They recommended an 11-year structured sentence combining punitive measures with rehabilitation, rather than conventional incarceration.
Representing the prosecution before Justice Diana Kavedza in Mombasa, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Jami Yamina suggested that the 11-year term should consider the three years Amanya has already spent on remand, leaving eight years to be served under a meticulously designed framework.
During this remaining period, between one and two-and-a-half years would be served in prison through a voluntary rehabilitation program jointly administered by the National Counter Terrorism Centre and the Kenya Prisons Service. The program emphasizes deradicalization, separation from cultic doctrines, and preparing Amanya for life beyond confinement.
After the imprisonment phase, the DPP proposed six years of supervised probation to facilitate careful monitoring as Amanya reintegrates into society.
To ensure accountability, the prosecution requested the court to receive progress updates every six months, with the understanding that full imprisonment would be imposed should Amanya fail to comply with program requirements.
Amanya informed the court of his willingness to fully cooperate with prison authorities throughout the rehabilitation process.
The court was also informed that victims and community members affected by the case will receive psychological support as part of a comprehensive restorative justice initiative.
The prosecution justified their lenient proposal based on mitigating factors, including Amanya’s cooperation with investigators and his guilty plea, while citing extenuating circumstances to rule out capital punishment.
However, prosecutors emphasized that the primary moral responsibility lies elsewhere, noting that cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and other church leaders bear the greatest culpability and will face substantially more severe sentences when their cases are adjudicated.
The case is scheduled to continue in April 2026.