The State has been given 14 days to file charges against Pastor Paul Mackenzie and 17 other suspects linked to the Shakahola massacre, failure to which the court will release the suspects on its own terms.
Shanzu Principal Magistrate Yousuf Shikanda issued the new ultimatum on Tuesday citing the historic length of pre-trial detention on Mackenzie and his associates.
“As already stated in my previous ruling, this is the longest pre-charge detention in the history of the country following the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010,” Shikanda outlined in his ruling.
Makenzi is being investigated for mass murder, radicalization, and terrorism among other crimes, and has been accused of influencing his followers to starve to death to go to heaven.
The magistrate said Makenzi’s case is the longest pre-charge detention in the history of the country following the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
“It has been a long journey that must come to an end, at least for this phase. However, I am aware of the fact that in the event the State decides to charge the respondents, it would require time and facilities to process the charges and eventually present the respondents in court. This is owing to the number of respondents and the possible charges that they may face. This processing can only be properly done while the respondents are in custody,” said Shikanda.
The matter will be mentioned at the Shanzu courts on January 23 where further orders will be given.
In late December, the Shanzu court granted the prosecution’s request to extend the suspects’ detention for another 180 days pending the conclusion of investigations.