CS Kindiki: Pastor Mackenzie’s Church Branded Criminal Syndicate!
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has declared Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s Good News International Ministries an organized criminal group.
Vide a Gazette notice released by the Interior Ministry on Wednesday, the CS-based his powers on the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act of 2010.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 22 (1) of the Prevention of Organized Crimes Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares Good News International Ministries to be an organized criminal group for the Act,” the Gazette stated.
The declaration, according to Kindiki, takes effect from the date of order, January 31, 2024.
As per the legislation, individuals involved in any coordinated criminal conduct may face either a fine, with the maximum limit being Ksh5 million, or imprisonment for a period of up to 15 years upon being found guilty.
“If as a result of the act referred to in the section person dies, the member of the organized criminal group shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for life,” the Act reads.
The legislation also specifies that a recognized organized group has the right to petition the High Court for a modification of the decision within 21 days following the declaration.
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“A person who attempts, aids, abets, counsels, procures, or conspires with another to commit an offence under this Act commits an offence and shall, upon conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years, or both,” the Act adds.
On January 16, 2024, charges were filed against Paul Mackenzie and 95 additional individuals, encompassing offenses associated with murder, manslaughter, radicalization, cruelty, and the torture of children.
“The DPP is fully satisfied that there is enough evidence to prosecute the 95 suspects with charges of manslaughter, assault and causing grievous bodily harm under the penal code,” DPP the statement read.
Prior to the charges being filed, the high court issued a deadline to the parties involved in the investigations, requiring them to either find the accused guilty or release them.
Mackenzie faced allegations of causing the deaths of numerous Kenyans through deliberate deprivation in a religious sect, where he had assured them that they would encounter God upon passing away.
CS Kindiki: Pastor Mackenzie’s Church Branded Criminal Syndicate!