Police on Tuesday re-arrested Shakahola cult leader Pastor Paul Mackenzie after he was freed by a Malindi court.
Mackenzie was re-arrested outside the court and moved to Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa where he will face fresh terror charges.
Malindi Principle Magistrate Ivy Wasike said her court had no jurisdiction to hear terrorism charges that the prosecution wanted to add to the suit against Mackenzie.
Meanwhile, police on Tuesday morning also arrested Pastor Mackenzie’s wife at her hideout in Mtwapa.
Rhoda Mumbua Maweu was arrested at her aunt,s place in Mtwapa, Kilifi County.
She will be interrogated as an accomplice in the radicalization and indoctrination of the faithful. It is said that she will also be used as a witness in the case having been involved in the day-day activities of the church.
Autopsy ongoing
The autopsy on the bodies of 109 Shakahola victims is currently ongoing at the Malindi Sub-County hospital mortuary.
The exercise being carried out by a team of pathologists led by Government Chief Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor started on Monday.
“The Government has nothing to hide. There will be a process of accountability for any acts of omission or commission. A Commission of Inquiry will probe this matter and make recommendations that will be implemented to ensure such a tragedy does not occur again in the country,” said Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.
The exhumation process was temporarily suspended due to bad weather. The CS said the exercise will resume as soon as the situation improves and based on advice from the experts.
“The search and rescue efforts continue. Aerial surveillance has been upscaled and choppers deployed to complement efforts by security officers combing the 800-acre parcel of land and save as many lives as possible. In the last two days, five people have been rescued,” said the Interior CS.
So far, 461 cases of reported missing persons have been received.
“Members of the public are advised and encouraged to file any inquiries, information, or missing person(s) report(s) at the Public Information, Tracing, and Support Centre or call the helpline number 0112 966 857,” he added.
