Controversial preacher of the Good News International Ministries, Paul Mackenzie and his 94 co-accused have left Kenyans talking after appearing in court weak and emaciated.
Videos and photos shared online show some of the accused persons lying helplessly on the floor.
The accused persons are said to have been on a hunger strike for the past three days while in police custody. The individuals could not stand or walk, forcing the Mombasa Chief magistrate Alex Ithuku to direct that they remain in the holding area and to be represented by their lawyer.
The preacher and his co-accused were charged with 17 accounts in the Shakahola Massacre during appearance in court last week.
The preacher radicalized his congregants that they should not eat so as to meet Jesus Christ before the end of August 2023, leading to mass starvation, suffocation, strangulation and blunt force trauma. More than 429 people died in the massacre dubbed Shakahola massacre, and were buried in shallow graves on an 800-acre of land.
Investigations by the office of the DPP indicated that some victims were missing body organs, fuelling suspicions of a human organ trafficking syndicate within the cult.
DPP further said that the suspects contravened section 203 as read with section 204 of the penal code.
Mackenzie is accused of engaging in organized criminal activity contrary to section 4(1) as read with section 39n) and section 4(2) of the prevention of organized crimes act 2010.
The preacher and his co-accused are implicated in the mass starvation of over 400 people where they are charged of 17 accounts of child abuse, torture, assault, cruelty, and violation of child’s right to education. Office of the DPP requested the court to deny the preacher and his co-accused the bond on the grounds that they are flight at risk.
He has been into detention since April 14 last year following the discovery of the first victims in the Shakahola.
Mackenzie and co-accused who are on a hunger strike, arrive in a Mombasa court weak and hungry. pic.twitter.com/9mx2IWrt1Z
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 20, 2024