Shakahola cult leader Paul Mackenzie detained for two more days

Suspected cult leader Paul Mackenzie will remain in custody for two more days pending the hearing and determination of an application filed by the prosecution seeking to detain him and his co accused for 47 more days.

The prosecution argued that they needed time to complete investigations with the defence counsel asked the court to dismiss the application, citing inhumane conditions meted on their clients while in custody.

Mackenzie and his 15 other co-accused persons on Tuesday appeared before Shanzu Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda following the lapse of 30 days granted by the court to detain them previously.

Defence lawyer Wyclife Makasembo stated: “Wasilazimishwe kufanya hizi parade, mtu ajulishwe akiwa pale ndani ya cell kama anataka kufanya afanye, kama hataki basi. Mwishoww mwenzangu anasema chakula hapewi, analala sakafuni.”

Prosecution lawyer Jami Yamina argued: “Uchunguzi wowote unaofanyika dhidi ya hawa, wao wanaona huo uchunguzi ni dhuluma na ingekuwa bora sana kwamba hii koti iseme kuwa ni dhuluma na isimamishe uchunguzi.”

Magistrate Shikanda however directed that the suspects remain in custody for two more days pending the hearing and determination of the application.

This as Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor conducted a post-mortem examination on 26 bodies, bringing an end to the fourth phase of the autopsies on bodies exhumed from Shakahola.