By Kamadi Amata

After more than a month in police custody, Paul Mackenzie, the controversial leader of a cult in Malindi, along with his wife Rhoda Maweu and 17 other co-accused persons, have been presented before the court. The arraignment follows their arrest in connection with the discovery of over 240 bodies exhumed from Shakahola forest.

Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda granted the police permission to hold Mackenzie, Maweu, and the co-accused individuals last month. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had requested 90 days to conduct a thorough investigation into the case. However, the court granted them a period of 30 days, which expired on Friday.

The specific charges against Mackenzie, his wife, and the co-accused persons were not mentioned in the provided information. The investigations surrounding the deaths and the activities of the cult are ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the legal proceedings continue.