The Mombasa law court Magistrate has ordered the hospitalization of controversial Pastor Paul Mackenzie and his 94 followers.
The order came after the suspected cult leader and his followers showed up for their court proceeding weak following a 3-day hunger strike.
The Magistrate indicated that this affected their ability to take part in the proceedings.
As they arrived for the proceedings on Tuesday, February 20, some of them could barely walk and had to be wheeled in by police officers as they alighted from the police van.
High Court Judge Alex Ithuku asked the police to take the suspects to a holding area as their lawyer represented them before him.
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Kindiki Declares Mackenzie Church an Organized Crime Group
Earlier in January 31, the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s church, the Good News International, an organized criminal group, invoking the powers conferred to him by the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act to list the church as a criminal group.
His declaration provided for the recovery of proceeds of organized criminal group activities.
According to the law, an organized criminal group is one that commits one or more serious crimes in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, financial or other material benefit.
“IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 22 (1) of the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares Good News International Ministries to be an organized criminal group for the purposes of the Act,” the statement read in part.
Also Read: Pastor Mackenzie Sent to Prison
DPP Charges Paul and Co-accused
The declaration came days after the Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga, finally moved to prosecute Pastor Mackenzie and his co-accused over allegations of running a cult.
On January 9, those managing Mackenzie’s case issued a deadline to the government following complaints from the defense about the prosecution’s delay in filing charges.
The Shakahola deaths investigation lasted over eight months, raising uncertainties about the case’s trajectory.