DPP Haji orders police to seize pastor Paul Mackenzie’s assets

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has now ordered the police to seize the property of controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie, even as the probe into his Good News International Church cult continues.

DPP Haji, in a statement released on Tuesday, expressed shock and horror at what he described as heinous crimes committed by pastor Mackenzie and his cult in Shakahola village of Malindi, Kilifi County.

The DPP, whose remarks come a day after visiting Mackenzie’s 800-acre piece of land where 17 bodies have since been exhumed, vowed to prosecute the controversial preacher and his co-accused to the full extent of the law.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects may have committed serious crimes including but not limited to murder; procuring, counselling and aiding persons to kill themselves; terrorist acts by threatening national security and public safety and radicalization,” he said.

“This is in violation of various statutes such as the Penal Code, the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the International Crimes Act, the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, among others.”

DPP Haji added: “Further, the ODPP has directed investigation officers to identify the assets of the suspects herein for purposes of preservation, confiscation and forfeiture in accordance with the law.”

This comes as the death toll in the Shakahola massacre on Tuesday rose to 90 after 17 more bodies were exhumed from shallow graves in the vast piece of land.

The multi-agency team also rescued three people during the operation and arrested two more suspects for taking part in luring Mackenzi’es followers to starve to death.

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof. Kithure Kindiki recommended that the preacher be charged with terrorism and genocide at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The CS spoke when he toured Shakahola forest on Tuesday to assess the situation on the ground as the operation to exhume the bodies of Mackenzie's 'brainwashed' followers ran into the fifth day.