Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda on Monday freed Rhoda Maweu wife of the controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie on a personal bond of Sh100,000 with a surety bond of Sh300,000.
According to Magistrate Shikanda, the State had failed to prove why she was being held together with her husband over the Shakahola massacre where more than 300 bodies have been found since the exhumation exercise began in the vast Shakahola forest, Kilifi county.
Mackenzie’s wife had been in custody for 62 days, since her arrest on May 2.
She will be required to report to any police station whenever there is a need concerning the ongoing investigations.
However, her husband Paul Mackenzie with his co-accused will remain in custody for 30 more days following ongoing investigations by the state.
After 30 days the state will have to prove why they should continue holding them in custody – 11 additional suspects, who were first arraigned on June 3, will also remain in custody for three additional days.
Mackenzie is accused of radicalizing innocent Kenyans who starved to death so as to “meet Jesus.”
The state has indicated it intends to charge him and his accomplices with genocide, murder, and terrorism among other charges.