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The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is now seeking court orders to have hundreds of Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s followers forced to eat and take medication while in custody.

DPP argues that the 95 adherents of the Shakahola cult have refused to eat to hasten their deaths so they can “meet God”.

The DPP asked the Shanzu court to issue orders giving police powers to force the adherents to eat and take medication.

Through Principal Prosecution Counsel Yamina Jamii, Shanzu Principal Magistrate Joe Omide heard that the faithful who were all rescued from the Shakahola forest in March this year and taken to a rescue centre within Mtwapa in Kilifi county had refused to take meals served to them claiming that they wanted to die and meet Jesus.

Rescue centres

“Following their rescue from the Shakahola forest which is now a crime scene, the respondents while at rescue centres have declined to eat, they want to die in line with the preachings from their pastor who is the main suspect,” said Jamii.

Jamii also informed the court that children who had been rescued alongside their parents who were being held at Sajahawadi rescue centre had continued to suffer the brunt of the cult activities by being denied food by their parents.

“Homicide detectives have further established that the minors under the care of their biological parents in custody are being denied their right to food by forcing them to fast,” he told the court.

The prosecution said it was seeking detention orders to have the respondents  held at Shimo La Tewa GK prison where they can be forced to eat and undergo treatment.

“If no measure or orders are issued by the court, some of the respondents will die if an urgent intervention will not be made at this stage,” pleaded Jamii.

He disclosed that the inmates had not eaten from June 6 to June 11 and there was a likelihood that they would begin dying if no orders are issued to compel them to be fed and undergo medical examination.