A Mombasa court on Monday summoned the head of Shimo la Tewa Women’s Prison after suspects complained of harassment. The suspects, who are detained in connection with the Shakahola massacre, went on hunger strike to protest their treatment by prison wardens.
Cult leader Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused, which include 40 women and 55 men, face 238 counts of manslaughter. Among those raising the complaint were Mackenzie’s wife, Rhoda Maweu, and eight other women.
Lawrence Obonyo, the defense lawyer representing the suspects, said, “They (suspects) are yet again on hunger strike to protest the actions of the officers at Shimo la Tewa. We are asking the court to intervene.” He mentioned several officers accused of ‘tormenting’ the suspects.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, arguing it was a tactic to obstruct the trial. Senior prosecution counsel Jami Yamina stated, “The court should allow the defense team to follow the procedure as outlined in the Prisons Act. The application by the defense to invite this court into this issue will derail the matter at hand, which is the manslaughter trial.”
Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku acknowledged the seriousness and urgency of the hunger strike issue. He directed that snacks be provided to the suspects during the court session and ordered the chief prison warden to appear before the court on Wednesday, September 11. “The allegations raised were serious and it is prudent for the officer in charge of the women’s prison to provide a comprehensive report of the allegations,” Ithuku ordered.
This development follows reports that a second suspect, Edison Safari, had died at Shimo la Tewa Prison. Safari, who was suffering from cancer, passed away on August 19.
The other suspect, Mary Charo, died in June at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital. Both bodies have been released to their relatives for burial after postmortem examinations.
So far, seven witnesses have testified against Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The victims were followers of Mackenzie’s Good News International Church, and they died while allegedly pursuing a suicide pact linked to the church’s teachings between January 2021 and September 2023.
One of the witnesses testified that Mackenzie used Bible verses to promote his messages, which ultimately led to the mass deaths of his followers. He preached to abandon work, meals, education, beauty, and other ‘worldly affairs’. Mackenzie also presented radical interpretations of Scripture, sometimes contradicting known verses.
At times, he did not refer to any Bible verse but decreed certain actions and instructed his congregation to follow them. The witness noted that Mackenzie’s instruction on continuous fasting contributed to the deaths of many members.
