Court declines to block Senate’s summons for Mackenzie
Court declines to block Senate’s summons for Mackenzie
The Ad-hoc committee looking into the Shakahola massacre had been summoned to the senate, but cult leader Paul Mackenzie requested to bypass it. A high court in Shanzu rejected to rule on this motion. The court stated that it lacked the authority to make a decision in a judgment delivered on Thursday, October 19.
“This is not the appropriate venue. This court has no authority to advise or speak for the Senate on what it should or should not do. “As a result, whether it is correct or not, I decline to offer any advice. The judge clarified, “I cannot explain what they meant by particular expressions they used. That is not my responsibility.
On October 12, Mackenzie asked the judge to halt the Senate Committee’s attempt to interrogate him. Mackenzie contended that he wasn’t ready to appear before the committee until his case had been heard and decided through his attorney, Wycliffe Makasembo.
“I want to let Senator Danson Mungatana know that until this criminal case is over, we will not testify before any Senate Committees. In a plea to stop Mackenzie’s summons, Mackenzie’s attorney stated, “He should not spend his time.
Danson Mungatana, a senator from Tana River, is the chair of the nine-member Senate Committee, which was established to look into the development of religious organizations and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of over 95 persons in Skahola, in the Kilifi county. Mackenzie was anticipated to appear before the committee while being closely guarded by jail guards and police officers stationed inside the courtroom.
“We’ve asked him to come speak with us. The committee has requested a conversation with him. We’re holding out hope that the prison guards will bring him to us. He is here; we are waiting,” Mungatana said.
Paul Mackenzie and Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor ignored a Senate summons on Tuesday this week. After Oduor missed the grilling for a third time in a row, the committee further ordered his detention.
A day after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) explained why Mackenzie hadn’t been prosecuted, the decision against him was made. The ODPP announced in a news release dated October 18 that the long DNA analysis of the victims forced a delay in the prosecution of Mackenzie and his 18 accomplices.
An ad hoc committee called controversial Pastor Ezekiel Odero of the New Life Prayer Centre earlier this week to provide additional information regarding his alleged relationship with Mackenzie. Odero vehemently denied knowing Mackenzie, stating that the only time they had contact was after the accused’s sale of his TV station to the New Life preacher.
