On Monday, a Mombasa court summoned the head of Shimo la Tewa Women’s Prison following complaints of harassment from suspects linked to the Shakahola massacre.
The suspects, including cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused—40 women and 55 men facing 238 manslaughter charges—have gone on hunger strike to protest alleged mistreatment by prison wardens. Mackenzie’s wife, Rhoda Maweu, along with eight other women, raised these concerns.
Lawrence Obonyo, the defence lawyer for the suspects, urged the court to address the situation, stating, “They are once again on hunger strike due to the actions of the officers at Shimo la Tewa. We seek the court’s intervention.” The defence highlighted specific officers accused of tormenting the inmates.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that it was a delay tactic. Senior prosecution counsel Jami Yamina suggested that the proper procedure for handling complaints is outlined in the Prisons Act and that involving the court could impede the ongoing manslaughter trial.
Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku deemed the hunger strike issue urgent and directed that the suspects be provided with snacks during the court session. He also ordered the chief prison warden to appear before the court on Wednesday, September 11, to provide a detailed report on the allegations.
This development follows the death of suspect Edison Safari, who had cancer and died on August 19 at Shimo la Tewa Prison. Another suspect, Mary Charo, passed away in June at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital. Both bodies were released to their families for burial after postmortem examinations.
So far, seven witnesses have testified against Mackenzie and his co-accused. The suspects, who have pleaded not guilty, are charged in connection with the deaths of followers of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church, who reportedly died between January 2021 and September 2023 while allegedly pursuing a suicide pact related to church teachings.
Witnesses have testified that Mackenzie used Bible verses to promote harmful messages, leading to the mass deaths of his followers. He encouraged them to abandon work, meals, education, and other worldly concerns, often providing radical interpretations of Scripture or issuing commands without Biblical basis.
