Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has declared Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s church, the Good News International, an organized criminal group.
In a statement on Wednesday, January 31, Kindiki invoked the powers conferred to him by the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act to list the church as a criminal group after a long battle between Mackenzie and the state.
“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.
What decalaration by CS Kindiki means
The Prevention of Organized Crimes Act provides a framework for prevention and punishment of organized criminal groups.
In addition, it provides 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.
A person becomes liable for involvement in the activities of an organized criminal groups if he or she is established to be or professes to be a member of an organised criminal
group.
Also Read: Another 40 Days and Nights for Paul Mackenzie in Custody
In addition, a person who knowingly advises, causes, encourages or recruits another person to become a member of an organised criminal group becomes liable for involvement in the group’s activities.
DPP finally charges Mackenzie
The declaration came days after the state finally moved to prosecute Pastor Mackenzie and his co-accused over allegations of running a cult.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga pressed 11 charges against Mackenzie and other suspects in Shakohola massacre case to bring an end to a long wait.
Also Read: Pastor Mackenzie Sent to Prison
Among the charges preferred against him include that of the murder of more than 200 people whom the DPP managed to link to the controversial church.
Earlier on January 9, the handling Mackenzie’s case had issued an ultimatum to the government after the defense side complained about the delay by the prosecution to press any charges.
Investigations into the Shakola deaths had taken more than eight months, casting doubts in the direction the case would take.