The Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) on Wednesday approved the charges against the controversial preacher Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and seven others over the Shakahola Kwa Binzaro massacre.
In a statement shared on their social media DPP said that the accused including Mackenzie alias Mtumishi, Shallyne Anindo Temba alias Ann, Kahindi Kazungu Garama alias Mlewa, Tom Ochieng Mkonwe alias Thomas alias Tomaso, Julius Tuva Luwali, Johnson Gona Richard.
Others included Charles Mutua Musee alias Mzee Mutua, and James Kazungu Kahindi alias Ponda alias Baba Bura, appeared before High Court Judge Wendy Kagendo in Mombasa. They will face 23 accounts of muder charges against humanity.
“All eight accused pleaded not guilty. Justice Kagendo remanded Mackenzie at Shimo la Tewa Prison and ordered his co-accused to remain at Malindi GK Prison for two weeks pending transfer arrangements,”
The DPP in a statement said the killing by the accused were intentional and premeditated, carried out with full knowledge that their actions would result in death.
Justice Kagendo noted that the victims’ genders remain unascertained, prompting the assignment of identifiers in court records.
The alleged offences occurred at Kwa Binzaro in Chakama Location, Magarini Sub-County, Kilifi County.
In addition to international law charges, the six were charged with 23 counts of murder under the Penal Code, while Charles Mutua Musee and James Kazungu Kahindi faced accessory-after-the-fact charges for aiding co-accused to evade justice.
