Controversial Preacher Paul Mackenzie has been allowed by the Mombasa Law Courts to meet his wife, Rhoda Mumbua Maweu, who is also facing charges on manslaughter.
In a statement on Thursday April 25 the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) said Mackenzie will be able to see his wife but under strict supervision of the prison’s authority.
“The Chief Magistrate allowed Mackenzi’s application to meet his spouse Rhonda Mumbua, who is charged alongside him, under strict supervision of the prison’s authority,” the DPP said.
“Mackenzie prayed to the court to direct Shimo La Tewa Prisons to arrange a meeting to discuss family matters with his wife.”
Mackenzie and 94 other co-suspects in the Shakahola massacre case had also requested for soap, claiming they were suffering from skin diseases due to poor hygiene in prison.
Through their advocate Lawrence Obonyo, the suspects disclosed that they were suffering from skin rashes because of a shortage of bathing soap.
“It appears there is a rash outbreak among the detainees. They are asking for soap to manage the situation. After all, they are under the care of the state, so the government should offer them proper hospitality,” Mr. Obonyo stated.
Also Read: ODPP Clarifies Why Pastor Mackenzie Boycotted Court Hearing
Court Hearing on Mackenzie and Others
Following the hearing, the prosecution was granted more time to facilitate exhibits and witness statements to Shakahola massacre prime suspect Paul Mackenzie and 94 others in their 238-manslaughter case.
Chief Magistrate Hon. Alex Ithuku also allowed the prosecution’s application to separate exhibits and witness statements in the case from the tonnes of evidentiary materials in the other three cases Mackenzie is facing with his co-accused.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Alex Gituma told the court that investigators had put together exhibits and witness statements for all the four cases in one master bundle.
He submitted that a pre-trial meeting between the prosecution and the investigation team resolved to separate exhibits and statements based on each of the four cases.
Gituma prayed for two weeks for the tedious exercise to be completed since it involves re-arranging thousands of exhibits and witness statements in accordance with each of the four cases before supplying Mackenzie and co-accused persons through their counsels.
The parties also agreed that each of the three counsels will receive a copy of the prosecution’s exhibits and testimonies.
Also Read: DPP Pleads with Court Over Paul Mackenzie’s Defense
Shakahola Massacre Case
The Chief Magistrate further directed that the hearing of the case be conducted on the day-to-day basis to accord justice to Mackenzie and his Shakahola massacre suspects who have been denied bond.
The 40 women and 55 men linked to 429 deaths in the Shakahola massacre are faced with 238 counts of manslaughter contrary to Section 202, as read with Section 205 of the penal code.
They allegedly in pursuance of a suicide pact for the object of their death and others not before court, jointly killed 238 people on unknown dates between January 2021 and September 2023 at Shakahola area in Malindi Sub-County within Kilifi County.
However, they all pleaded not guilty to all counts of manslaughter, which were read to them for four and half hours.
The matter will be mentioned on 13 May 2023 for pre-trial to fix a hearing date.
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