I'll never forgive my wife for letting our six children die at Shakahola

Stephen Mwiti, a 45-year-old from Meru says he cannot find it in his heart to forgive his wife Bahati Juan for letting their six children die inside Shakahola forest in Kilifi County.

When cult leader Paul Mackenzie said the world would end this August, Stephen Mwiti's wife believed him.

She had been an ardent follower of Mackenzie since 2015 and had first gone to Shakahola in 2021, and then kept coming and going.

The obvious signs were when she stopped using family planning and supporting her kids to go to school.

"I had to bathe my kids every morning and prepare them for school as she folded her hands. She didn't support their schooling," he said.

Stephen says his wife disappeared with the children while he was away for work. "My wife was pregnant when she left last year with our children. Hellen Karimi, nine years old, Samuel Kirimil, seven, Jacob Kimathi, three, Lillian Gatumbi, 18 months, and Angelina Gatumbi, seven months," he says.

Mwiti later found out that his wife had given birth to a son, who also died. However, his wife was rescued by the police last month and he was later called to pick her up. "I was called by DCI officers from Malindi and told they had found my wife but I don’t want to see her because I'm in so much pain and it will just worsen the situation,'' he said.

"Our vows are broken and can't be mended. I'm in pain and I don't know where to start, especially at my age. I was told not to try to look for my children again. They are all dead."