Controversial Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, his wife Rhoda Mumbua Maweu, and 16 other people who were arrested in connection with the deaths at Shakahola will remain in custody for another week.
Shanzu Court directed that Mackenzie and the other accused be detained for another seven days to allow their lawyers time to respond to the prosecution’s application to extend their detention.
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The prosecution had requested that the court extend the accused detention by 60 days.
The Prosecution and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are seeking an extension to allow the completion of investigations that they have termed as complex.
More bodies are still being exhumed, with DNA analysis ongoing.
“The investigations team has gathered sufficient and credible evidence to sustain a watertight case against Mackenzie and his collaborators. They will face among other charges, genocide and crimes against humanity,” said Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.
Meanwhile, the construction of security roads across the more than 37,000 acres of Chakama Ranch has commenced.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki said the roads will facilitate comprehensive, methodical, and scientific investigations and facilitate search and rescue efforts, as well as identification of graves.
“Investigations have so far established that Mackenzie extended his criminal activities beyond the 800-acre parcel of land at the Shakahola Forest,” said the CS.
