Another accused person enters into plea bargain in Shakahola manslaughter trial

The prosecution secured a significant breakthrough in the ongoing Shakahola manslaughter trial after one of the key accused persons entered into a plea bargain agreement with the State.

Enos Amanya Ngala, alias “Hallelujah,” a co-accused of Pastor Paul Mackenzie, was today charged afresh with 43 counts of manslaughter following a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution.

Under the agreement, Amanya pleaded guilty freely and voluntarily to all 43 counts, confirming to the court that his decision was made without threat, force, intimidation, or coercion of any kind.

As part of the plea arrangement, Amanya undertook to provide full and truthful information as well as cooperation to the State.
This includes but is not limited to recording a witness statement with the investigators, testifying as a prosecution witness in the ongoing Shakahola case proceedings, including in the Kwa Binzaro massacre case, and voluntarily participating in an appropriate rehabilitation program during the term of his imprisonment.

The State, through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, agreed to withdraw 195 out of 238 original manslaughter charges that had been preferred against him.
The prosecution undertook to withdraw all the charges against him in Tononoka Children’s Court.

The prosecution further urged the court to treat Amanya as a first offender and not to impose the maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Instead, the State recommended a custodial sentence of eleven (11) years, taking into account the three years he has already spent in custody.Further that the 8 year remaining sentence would be a combination of 2 years in custody under a rehabilitation program run by prison authorities and the national counter terrorism center followed by a six years under supervised probation for his reintegration back to society.

The accused confimed that he had an opportunity to discuss the plea agreement fully and freely with his advocate, Mr. Kelvin Lisanza before appending his signature.

The advocate for the victim acknowledged that the plea bargaining agreement was entered in accordance with law and that the agreement comes after more than 100 witnesses had testified in the case.

Despite Hallelujah’s move, his wife, Anne Anyoso, and his younger brother, David Amanya, continue to stand trial alongside the remaining accused persons.

The plea agreement marks a pivotal moment in the complex and high-profile Shakahola trial, strengthening the prosecution’s case as proceedings continue.