Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has declared controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie’s Good News International Ministries an organised criminal group.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kindiki said the declaration is in accordance with Section 22(1) of the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act.
The cited provision dictates that “Where the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that a specified group is engaged in any organized criminal activity under section 3 of this Act, he may, on the advice of the Commissioner of Police, by notice, declare that specified group an organized criminal group for the purposes of this Act.”
Pat (2) further reads that “Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Minister under this section may apply to the High Court for redress within twenty-one days from the date of publishing the order.”
The ministry, harbored in Shakahola, Kilifi County, is at the heart of a suspected cult that has been held responsible for the death of over 400 persons which occurred between January 2021 and September 2023.
Court proceedings grilling Pastor Mackenize and 94 other people accused persons have found that DNA material from 429 bodies for analysis has been impeded due to the severe decay of 360 bodies, making the autopsy exercise delicate, costly, laborious, and time-consuming.
The suspects are facing 238 charges levelled against them including terrorism and radicalization. They have denied all charges.
Mackenzie and his co-accused, who have remained in remand for months, will continue to remain in custody following an application by the prosecution to continue detaining them pending the conclusion of investigations.
In late December, the Shanzu court granted the prosecution’s request to extend the suspects’ detention for another 180 days.
