Mombasa, Kenya.
Sixteen individuals associated with the Shakahola cult leader, Paul Mackenzie, currently held in custody, have reached a critical state of weakness after nearly two weeks on a hunger strike. The dire situation was brought to the attention of the court in Mombasa on Wednesday 14th June by Senior Prosecution Counsel Jami Yamina, who revealed that only Mackenzie and his assistant, Smart Mwakalama, were maintaining a regular intake of food. The remaining followers initiated their hunger strike ten days ago and have steadfastly refused to consume any food or water. Their deteriorating health has raised concerns that some may not survive their time in custody.
Yamina urgently implored the court to address the matter promptly, stating, “Given the uncertainty surrounding their condition, it is crucial that we take immediate action.” The severity of the situation has compelled authorities to respond swiftly.
Compounding the distress faced by Paul Mackenzie and his followers, their legal team encountered setbacks on Wednesday as lawyers George Kariuki and Elisha Komora withdrew from the case, citing frustration, intimidation, and threats as reasons for their decision.
Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, who proclaims himself as a pastor and founded the Good News International Church in 2003, stands accused alongside thirteen others of multiple offenses, including murder, kidnapping, and cruelty towards children, as detailed in court documents.
Adding to the already tragic circumstances, on Tuesday, the discovery of nineteen additional bodies in the Shakahola Forest, linked to Paul Mackenzie, brought the death toll to a staggering 303. The number of reported missing individuals stands at 613, and these figures have been steadily increasing since the commencement of the exhumation of bodies associated with Mackenzie’s Good News International Church on April 21. The authorities intend to bring criminal charges against over thirty people, including Mackenzie himself, in connection with these deaths.
Moreover, sixty-five individuals who were rescued from the forest, where the exhumation efforts continue, may face charges for attempted suicide after resuming starvation while in various rescue centers. The Shanzu Law Courts were informed on Monday that these individuals, who were being held in rescue centers in Kilifi County, refused meals and absconded. As part of the ongoing investigation, the police have sought the court’s permission to transfer the suspects from the rescue centers to police cells for further inquiries.
During a recent visit to the region, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki revealed that detectives are intensifying their efforts to identify Mackenzie’s accomplices. Police suspect that the majority of the discovered bodies belong to Mackenzie’s followers, who allegedly adhered to his instructions to starve themselves in order to “meet Jesus.” While starvation appears to be the primary cause of death, government pathologist Johansen Oduor noted that some victims, including children, also showed signs of strangulation, beatings, or suffocation.
