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Some 41 Shakahola survivors alongside suspected cult leader Paul Mackenzie will be charged with murder, manslaughter and terror-related charges.

Mackenzie and his aides yesterday appeared before a Shanzu law court for the mention of the cases.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Jamii Yamina sought to have the suspects detained for 47 more days to allow police complete investigations.

The suspects, who have been in custody for the last four months, protested over what they said was delayed justice.

After they were arraigned, they began chanting “haki yetu” slogans. Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda asked them to exercise patience.

“You have been shouting in court, but I don’t get mad at you. I understand you have been in detention for quite some time but be patient with investigations to be completed, even Jesus underwent temptations. But it shall end well,” he told the suspects.

Shikanda ordered that they be detained at the Shimo La Tewa GK prison to allow defense lawyers to reply to the State’s new application.

The prosecution said it will charge 41 out of the 65 survivors with murder, terrorism and child cruelty after investigations established they had a hand in the death of children at Shakahola forest.

Yamina told the court that detectives had established that the 41 were either parents or grandparents of the missing children believed to be dead.

The court heard that the 41 left their homes for Shakahola in the company of children aged between one and 14 years old whose whereabouts are yet to be established. So far, 40 children cannot be accounted for.

“The 64 are being investigated over murder or manslaughter, attempted suicide, cruelty and negligence against children, failing to take children to school and failing to provide necessities without lawful excuse alongside radicalization,” he said.

The court heard that the 28 women and 13 men were adherents of Good News International Church associated with pastor Mackenzie.

The investigators also established that most of them used false names and have continued to frustrate detectives’ efforts to gather crucial evidence on the whereabouts of their children.