A Mombasa court has declined to grant bond to cult leader Paul Mackenzie and the 38 parents of children rescued from Shakahola forest, citing witness interference.
In her ruling, the Tononoka Court Principal Magistrate Nelly Chepchirchir stated that the prosecution had advanced compelling reasons against the accused persons interfering with children witnesses.
The defence attorney, Wycliffe Makasembo, orally requested bail and bond for all the accused individuals. However, the prosecution opposed the application, submitting an affidavit supporting the denial of bail.
“Having considered the nature of offences that the accused persons are charged with and the need to safeguard the best interests of the children who are witnesses in this matter, and whom the accused may or have authority over, I find that these are compelling reasons to warrant all the accused persons to be denied bond at this point,” she said.
The principal directed that the pre-trial conference be conducted on 23 April 2024, with the accused person’s actual presence waived, but they can log in virtually. Mackenzie and 38 co-accused persons were charged with child cruelty, torture, and denying children the right to education. All 39 accused persons denied all the charges levelled against them.
