SHAKAHOLA: Court Summons Prison Officer Over Claims Of Pastor Mackenzie’s Wife Mistreatment
An inquest has been opened into allegations of mistreatment against some of the female suspects in the Shakahola massacre who are being held at the Shimo la Tewa women’s prison.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s wife, Rhoda Mumbua Maweu, has been subjected to harsh treatment in prison, including torture and denial of food.
There have also been allegations that she was physically assaulted and forced to sleep on the floor by prison officers.
Maweu was initially arrested on May 2, 2023, after being linked to a cult associated with her husband, Paul Mackenzie. She faces charges of manslaughter.
A Mombasa court has dropped the Shakahola massacre case against two deceased accused persons.
— Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (@ODPP_KE) September 9, 2024
Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku made the direction following Prosecution's submission of burial permits and postmortem reports, detailing deaths of the two suspects.
According to the… pic.twitter.com/J18Phmlc8R
“The magistrate indicated that the allegations raised were serious and it is prudent for the officer in charge of the women’s prison to provide a comprehensive report of the allegations,” a statement from the office of the DPP read.
She was one of 95 suspects charged with killing 238 people inside the Shakahola Forest in Malindi sub-county.
Pastor Mackenzie, the alleged mastermind behind the killings, was charged with murder, manslaughter, and assault causing bodily harm.
Meanwhile, two of the Shakahola massacre suspects who died while in police custody have had their cases dropped.
Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku decided to drop the cases on Monday, September 9, after the prosecution presented him with burial permits and postmortem reports indicating that both suspects died of illness.
One of the suspects, Edison Safari Munyambo alias Baba Sifa, died a few days ago while receiving treatment at a hospital in Mombasa.
His death came after that of Mary Charo Mbita, who died at Coast Teaching and Referral Hospital in August 2024.
Senior Assistant of Public Prosecutions Jami Yamina initially declared Mbita’s trial abated during an inquest into her cause of death.
However, after the autopsy, the bodies of the two suspects were returned to their families for burial.
SHAKAHOLA: Court Summons Prison Officer Over Claims Of Pastor Mackenzie’s Wife Mistreatment
