Two lawyers representing preacher Paul Mackenzie and 16 other suspects have requested to recuse themselves in the case pitting the state and the the cult leader over a starvation cult that has led to the death of over 300 members of the good news international church.
Lawyers George Kariuki and Elisha Komora have cited frustrations in trying to access the suspects.
They also said they are facing threats and are afraid justice might not be served.
However, the third lawyer Wycliffe Makasembo has said he will stick with the suspects until the end.
This is as the Shakahola cult leader Paul Mackenzie, his wife Rhodha Mumbua and 16 other co-accused persons, appeared on Wednesday appeared before the Shanzu Law Court in Mombasa, for a hearing on whether to extend their detention.
Last week, police were granted more time to detain Mackenzie and his co-accused, pending investigations and to allow the hearing of an application seeking a further 60-day detention.
Reports also indicate the the suspects have been staging a hunger strike while in police custody. As they alighted from the police vehicles, a number of suspects appeared extremely frail, unable to walk into the courtroom.
Police said the suspects have been on a 7-day hunger strike during their detention in different stations.
This is as the government intensifies exhumation of bodies in the vast Shakahola forest, mounting the number the bodies to 303 as by 13th June 2023