In a significant development in a high-profile case that has captured national attention in Kenya, a Kenyan court has issued a stern warning to prosecutors regarding the detention of Paul Mackenzie and 28 others, all accused of being involved in the deaths of 429 people, believed to be followers of Mackenzie’s cult. The court has stipulated that unless charges are filed within two weeks, it will release the suspects under its own terms.
Since their arrest in April, the suspects, including self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, have been in custody while investigations into the case continue. The discovery of mass graves and allegations of starvation and strangulation linked to Mackenzie’s Good News International Church in Kilifi County have shocked the Kenyan public. This case is particularly notable for the scale of the alleged crimes and the gruesome details that have emerged.
Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda pointed out that the suspects have been detained for 117 days since the last application for an extension, a duration deemed sufficient for completing investigations. The defense has argued that this prolonged detention without formal charges is a violation of the constitutional rights of Mackenzie and the others.
Mackenzie, who established the Good News International Church in 2003, is currently serving a separate one-year prison sentence for operating a film studio and producing films without a valid license. The cult case gained prominence when police rescued 15 emaciated parishioners from Mackenzie’s church, four of whom died after being taken to a hospital. Survivors have reported that Mackenzie instructed them to fast to death to “meet Jesus” before the end of the world.
Authorities have discovered 429 bodies and dozens of mass graves in a remote, forested area during their search. Autopsies conducted on some of the bodies have revealed causes of death such as starvation, strangulation, or suffocation.
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