Paul Mackenzie Decries Being Denied Food, Mistreatment By Prison Officials: "Sijakula Na Sijaoga"

• Good News International Church leader Pastor Paul Mackenzie told the court he had been placed in solitary confinement, away from fellow co-accused
• Mackenzie claimed he had tried to complain to prison officials, but they talked among each other before reverting to locking him away
• The preacher said he had gone for days without seeing sunlight, pointing out that he was not demanding his release but for the court to save him

Mombasa - Controversial Good News International Church leader Pastor Paul Mackenzie has called on the court to rescue him.

During the hearing of the prayer by the prosecution to have Mackenzie and his co-accused detained for 47 more days at the Shanzu Law Courts on Friday, August 4, the cleric decried being put through inhumane conditions.

The preacher told the court that he had been isolated from his co-accused and placed in solitary confinement.

Mackenzie said he had gone for days without seeing sunlight, pointing out that he was not demanding his release but for the court to save him.

"But I am suffering. And I want this court to know that I am suffering. I have not eaten or bathed for two days because I am locked in a dark room 24/7. And when I try to talk to the authorities, they gang up against me. Who will defend me? I am asking this court to help me at this point. It's not that I am saying this just so the court can release me," he said.

Mackenzie questions who'll help him

He claimed he had begged to be allowed some time to stand in the sunlight, but this was also declined.

Mackenzie told the court nobody was listening to his cries for helping, questioning who he'll turn to for help if not the courts.

"So, I plead with this court to help me. I am in pain and tortured all the time. Whenever I try to ask for some sunlight, even for a few hours, it's impossible. I am locked up inside, suffering in the cold, and nobody listens to me. Where do they want me to go and cry? If I come to you, you can't help me because you say I am hardcore," he added.

Pastor Mackenzie's hunger strike

Earlier, the cleric's lawyer told the Shanzu Law Courts he needed assurance that he would receive a fair judgement.

He said Mackenzie had stopped eating following Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki's sentiments that he would never see the light of day.

He explained that Mackenzie and the other accused had resorted to going on a hunger strike in protest of Kindiki's declaration that he would not be let free any soon.