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 purposes of the Act," the Gazette stated.
The declaration, according to Kindiki, takes effect from the date of order, January 31, 2024.
According to the Act, a person who engages in any organised criminal activity is liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh5 million or imprisonment of up to 15 years upon conviction.
“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 Act also notes that a group termed as organized is allowed to appeal to the High Court for an amendment of the decision within 21 days after the declaration is made.
"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.
Paul Mackenzie and 95 others, were on January 16, 2024, charged for crimes related to murder, manslaughter, radicalisation, cruelty, and child torture.
"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," the DPP statement read.
Before the charges, the High Court gave stakeholders involved in the investigations an ultimatum to either convict the accused or release them.
Mackenzie had been accused of starving hundreds of Kenyans to death in a cultic church movement, after promising them they would meet God after dying.
