Paul Mackenzie Causes Drama In Court, Demands To Know His Fate

• Controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused may continue being detained should the court in Mombasa grant the prosecution its prayer to have them held for 47 more days
• They lost calm at the Shanzu Law Courts on Tuesday after the state sought to have their detention extended until the investigations were concluded
• Mackenzie and his group chanted 'haki yetu' inside the courtroom, disrupting the court proceedings there

Mombasa county - Pastor Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused caused a scene at the Shanzu Law Courts as they objected to the prosecution's prayer to the court to have them detained for further 47 days.

The state investigators want more time to conclude their investigations before mounting a case against them.

Mackenzie and co-accused chant in court

However, through their attorney, Wycliffe Makasembo, Mackenzie and his 29 fellows argued against the plea, suggesting it inconvenienced them.

They also cited the inhumane conditions in which they are being detained.

While in the courtroom, the group started chanting 'haki yetu', disrupting the proceedings for a while.

Inhumane conditions in detention

They decried being forced to put on prison garments, yet they are not convicted, being forced to be aligned in parades, sleeping on the floor, and relieving themselves inside the bucket(s).

Presiding magistrate Yusuf Shikanda directed the suspects to be held for two more days before the court rules on the prosecution's prayer for their further detention.

Mackenzie and his group are being held for allegedly running occult activities in which many people died.

The controversial preacher was heading the Good News International church whose faithful was brainwashed and made to fast to meet God.

A couple of shallow graves were discovered in the vast Shakahola in Kilifi county; the bodies retrieved from the graves were of Mackenzie's followers who starved to death in the name of fasting.

Government pathologist has since then been presiding over the phases of an autopsy on the retrieved bodies.

Memorial Park

In June this year, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Shakahola forest would not remain as it was immediately after the exhumation exercise.

"The government will convert it into a national memorial, a place of remembrance so that Kenyans and the world do not forget what happened here," said the CS.

According to Kindiki, once this exercise is concluded, the government will call a congregation of all believers from all faiths and our national leadership for a commemoration service.

"The prayers will be aimed at securing the sacred right and freedom of worship that has been violated by crooks hiding behind scriptures," he added.