Drama at Shanzu courtroom after Mackenzie followers collapse, faint
There was drama at the Shanzu Law Courts yesterday after six of Shakahola cult leader Paul Mackenzie’s aides who are reportedly on a hunger strike collapsed and fainted, forcing police officers to carry them into the courtroom for the scheduled mention of their case.
The officers had an extra duty of carrying the emaciated suspects on top of providing tight security as the hearing of a state application to have them transferred from three police stations to the Malindi GK prison was heard.
The six who fainted are among 12 of Mackenzie’s aides who are said to be on a hunger strike after they reportedly declined to eat and drink since June 4 on claims that they wanted to continue with their fasting to hasten their death and see God.
At the same time, Mackenzie’s associates suffered a blow following the withdrawal of their two lawyers, George Kariuki and Elisha Komora.
The lawyers made the application before Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda to recuse themselves from representing the suspects citing frustrations from prosecution and state agencies.
Kariuki informed the court that the duo had received threats both from the prosecution and State agencies for representing the suspects who are being investigated over the deaths of over 300 people.
“We are here to make an application to be allowed to recuse ourselves from representing the respondents in the matter. There are threats to our lives and our,” said Kariuki.
On his part, Komora told Shikanda that he feared for his life following intimidation from state agencies who had been trailing and profiling him since he began representing the suspects in court.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Victor Vinya Mule on his part sought the court’s intervention to save the lives of the 12 suspects.
Mule informed the court that there was need and urgency to hear and determine an application seeking for the transfer of the suspects to Malindi GK prison from Watamu, Malindi and Kilifi police stations since the suspects being held there had colluded and influenced each other not to eat nor drink anything.
