Shakahola cult probe: Court detains Paul Mackenzie, wife for six more days

Controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie, his wife Rhodah Mumbua and 16 other suspects in the Shakahola cult probe will continue to remain in police custody following a court ruling on Friday.

According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the court directed that the suspects remain in remand until Wednesday next week to allow the hearing of an application seeking a further 60-day detention.

“Court has directed that Paul Mackenzie, wife Rhodah Mumbua and 16 others remain in custody till Wednesday to allow their lawyers time to respond to the prosecution's application to extend their detention for another 60 days,” the ODPP said in a statement.

The prosecution had sought to have the court deny the suspects bail to allow room for investigations into the case where over 243 deaths have been reported at the Shakahola forest in Kilifi County.

“Prosecution through Coast Deputy Regional Head, Jami Yamina, told the court that there were compelling reasons to deny the suspects bail, citing the complexity of the investigations,” the ODPP noted.

The prosecution, through DCI Chief Inspector Raphael Wanjohi, submitted to the court that there were a lot of complexities since exhumation and postmortem examinations were still ongoing.

“Wanjohi cited an increase in the number of bodies being exhumed which now stands at 243; complex DNA analysis & recording of witness statements as compelling reasons to extend the detention by 60 days. He added that so far, 464 persons have provided DNA samples for analysis,” the statement added.

The ODPP also noted that 12 other suspects were arraigned in court, thus raising the number of total suspects to 30.

Mackenzie is accused of brainwashing his followers to starve themselves to death in order to "meet Jesus.