Kenya Court Grants Cult Leader Mackenzie and Wife Permission to Meet with Strict Supervision

In a dramatic turn of events, cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his wife, Rhodah Mumbua, were granted permission by a Mombasa Court to meet in prison under strict supervision. Mackenzie had requested the court to arrange a meeting with his wife and children to discuss family matters, as well as to be transferred to a different cell.

Mackenzie and his 94 co-accused, consisting of 40 women and 55 men, are facing charges related to the deaths of 429 people from starvation in Shakahola. They are accused of 238 counts of manslaughter for allegedly participating in a suicide pact that led to the deaths of these individuals.

The court also granted the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) more time to organize exhibits and witness statements for Mackenzie and his co-accused. The prosecution requested to separate the evidence and statements for this case from other cases involving Mackenzie and his associates.

Principal Prosecution Counsel Alex Gituma informed the court that the investigation team had consolidated all exhibits and statements into one bundle for the four cases. However, after a pre-trial meeting, it was decided to separate the evidence for each case to ensure a fair trial.

The court agreed to conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis to expedite the process and provide justice to Mackenzie and his co-accused, who have been denied bail. The case continues to unfold as more details emerge surrounding the Shakahola massacre and the involvement of Mackenzie and his followers.