Suspected leader of the Shakahola Cult, Pastor Paul Mackenzie, arrived at the Malindi Court on Monday, May 2, under heavy police presence, only to be released and rearrested to face charges terrorism charges at Shanzu High Court in Kilifi County.
In footage seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Mackenzie, and six other co-accused arrived at the Malindi Courts in a prison vehicle escorted by a land cruise full of police officers.
Among the tactics the General Service Officers (GSU) used to enhance his safety and delivery was sealing off the entrance to the courtroom and surveying the vicinity before giving the green light for the seven suspects to alight.
Officers took the extra precaution as Mackenzie's life was deemed to be at risk after locals invaded his compound hours before he appeared in court, bringing down a perimeter wall around his compound.
The officers then formed a human shield, lining up in a row with two general service unit (GSU) officers armed with rifles keeping watch.
One by one, the suspects disembarked the Land Cruiser and formed a single file, using their right hand to maintain arm's length between each other.
This also ensures that they create a human shield in case of a breach, with police also able to account for their number, from alighting to entering the court.
On their left hands was their belonging. The Prime Suspect, Mackenzie, was the last to disembark from the vehicle and was immediately guarded by the Directorate of Operations officers.
The Directorate oversees several functions involving Kenya Prisons, including the movement of suspects and prisoners. It directly reports to the Commissioner General of Prisons.
The officers held back remandees who had just arrived at the entrance to limit interaction with Mackenzie as more cases were still underway in court.
In court, Mackenzie sat closest to the bar's edge with an officer stationed on the other end to ensure that none of the suspects attempted an escape. This would aid the officers in quelling any threat from members in the courtroom.
The Magistrate released the co-accused after finding that they were illegally held in custody for 10 days before they were charged and that further detention would violate the law.
The courts released Mackenzie after it ruled it lacked the jurisdiction to rule on the defence's anticipatory bail and bail applications.
However, he was re-arrested and set to be arraigned at the Shanzu High Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions preferred radicalisation and terrorism charges against Mackenzie.
On the other Interior CS, Kithure Kindiki pushed for the same charges alongside genocide and indoctrination of the faithful.
