The Kenya Psychiatric Association has challenged the government to strengthen mental health support of the Shakahola cult survivors, the deceased and all the professionals who took part in the exhumation process.
The association also demands that the director of public prosecution (DPP) drops all the charges of the 65 survivors of the the recent Shakahola cult massacre under Paul Mackenzie and instead put in place structure for rehabilitation and re-integration of survivors into the community.
According to Boniface Chitayi, President KPA, the government should interview the survivors and upon learning the circumstances leading to the death of hundreds of victims under their cult come up with formulation of recommendations to be used to counsel them.
He adds that government should engage mental health professionals in future decisions pertaining to the wellbeing of the survivors and all other decisions concerning mental health.
“Government should drop all the charges against survivors who do not bear actual responsibility for atrocities commited at the Shakahola and avoid the path of punishment for the victims,” he said adding, “We understand the role of hopelessness among people who join these sects. We emphathise with the survivors and the relatives of those who lost their lives.”
According to government authorities the number of people who died after a Kenyan pastor ordered his followers to starve to death in order to meet Jesus has surpassed 300. 65 of the 95 parishioners whom authorities said they rescued from the property have been charged with attempting suicide after they staged a hunger strike to protest being held at a shelter. They were moved to a prison facilty.
KPA called for implementation of the national suicide prevention strategy and decriminalisation of attempted suicide moving forward.
The association also challenged government to invest in mental health services across the counrty that include promotion, prevention and timely treatment of mental illnesses.
On top of that, the government should investigate all factors that led to Shakahola tragedy in order to prevent a repeat of such in future.
