The high-profile case against controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and 30 others, who are accused of the murder of 191 children, has been adjourned to September 24, 2024. The adjournment follows the defence’s failure to file submissions on time in response to the prosecution’s application opposing bail.
During a virtual court session on Thursday, Malindi lawyer James Mouko, representing Mackenzie and three other accused individuals, requested an extension to file the necessary submissions. Mouko cited the illness of a colleague responsible for filing the submissions as the reason for the delay.
“My lady, I am really sorry that I was not able to file my submissions in time because I had given instructions to my colleague in the office, but she fell unwell. I request for seven days to be able to file them. I do not intend to highlight the submissions after filing,” Mr. Mouko explained.
Malindi High Court Judge Mugure Thande directed Mr. Mouko and Wycliffe Makasembo, another defence lawyer representing all the accused, to file their submissions by August 1, 2024. Judge Thande instructed Mr. Mouko to notify Mr. Makasembo, who was absent during the session.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Victor Owiti did not oppose the request for a seven-day extension but asked the court to set a ruling date in advance. Owiti noted that the prosecution would require only a few minutes to highlight their submissions before the ruling.
Lady Justice Thande did not address the request for a ruling date but confirmed the deadline for the defence submissions as August 1. She scheduled the next court session for September 24, 2024, for all counsel to highlight their submissions.
Mackenzie and his co-accused have pleaded not guilty to 191 counts of murder, alleged to have occurred between 2021 and 2023 in the Shakahola area of Malindi Sub County, Kilifi County. The charges stem from alleged cultic teachings by Mackenzie’s Good News International Ministries Church, which reportedly led followers to fast to death to “see Jesus.”
In a previous court session on May 17, 2024, Lady Justice Thande instructed the prosecution to amend the charge sheet to include only 12 counts, following complaints from Mr. Mouko about the impracticality of having too many counts in one charge sheet. She also dismissed an application by the defence to strike out the entire charge on the grounds of it being defective, ruling that the charge would not prejudice the accused as claimed.
The case continues to draw significant attention due to the nature of the allegations and the number of victims involved.
