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Newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Inganga has defended the continued detention of suspects linked to the Shakahola starvation cult that killed more than 400 people.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 18, the DPP said the delay in the prosecution of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and his 18 co-suspects was necessitated by the lengthy process of DNA analysis of the victims.

According to the DPP, the analysis of the DNA samples collected from the deceased persons remains incomplete with the full report expected in two to three months.

“The continued detention of the suspects is necessitated by the fact that DNA analysis is incomplete and the process is lengthy considering the fact that the number of bodies to be analysed against the number of DNA samples from relatives of the deceased.

“The ODPP is currently awaiting the results of the DNA analysis undertaken by the Government Chemist Department and the reports to be availed between two to three months,” the DPP stated.

DPP’s application

The ODPP had last month requested the court to detain the suspects for six more months to enable the police to conclude investigations into the Shakahola deaths.

The court is expected to deliver a ruling on the DPP’s application tomorrow, October 19.

Meanwhile, the DPP says the prosecution team handling the Shakahola massacre case will review the investigation files between 23-28 October to determine whether or not the facts disclose any criminal culpability.

“The ODPP reaffirms its commitment to promoting human rights and calls on all individuals and organisations to work together to create a peaceful and equitable society for all,” he added.

Mackenzie and his followers have been in custody for over six months but are yet to be charged in court.

The leader of the Good News International Ministries church is accused of misleading his followers to fast to death in Shakahola forest within Kilifi County with the hope of meeting Jesus.

Mackenzie and his aides are facing several charges including murder, terrorism, aiding people to commit suicide, crimes against the public, kidnapping, extremism, genocide, cruelty against children, fraud and money laundering.