- Oyugi cited an incident in July this year where a suspect, believed to be HIV positive, assaulted an officer by biting her hand.
- Between June and August, two suspects in the Shakahola case died while receiving medical treatment.
Image: CHARLES MGHENYI
Women suspects detained in connection with the Shakahola deaths have been provoking officers at Shimo La Tewa Women’s Prison.
The 39 women, part of the 93 suspects held alongside suspected cult leader Paul Mackenzie over the deaths of more than 400 people in Shakahola Forest, on Monday, accused prison officers of mistreatment and harassment.
Some of the women also staged a hunger strike to protest the alleged maltreatment.
In response to the claims, Mombasa chief magistrate Alex Ithuku summoned the head of Shimo La Tewa Women’s Prison.
Senior superintendent Silvensia Oyugi, who oversees the facility, detailed how the suspects have been arrogant to the officers.
“For instance, the suspects have been calling police officers ‘maids’ to provoke them,” Oyugi said.
She also said that most of the women, who are sickly from pneumonia and persistent coughs, have refused to take their medication.
Some suspects are battling terminal illnesses such as cancer and HIV/Aids.
Oyugi cited an incident in July where a suspect, believed to be HIV positive, assaulted an officer by biting her hand.
“The officer had to undergo a 21-day PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) treatment as a precautionary measure.”
On allegations that the suspects were being stripped naked, Oyugi said the routine search is usually done in private.
Oyugi also filed a report on the conditions at the prison.
The Mombasa chief magistrate is expected to issue directions on Thursday.
Between June and August, two suspects in the Shakahola case died while receiving medical treatment.
In June, Mary Charo, died at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
On August 19, Edison Munyambo succumbed to cancer at the Shimo La Tewa dispensary.
Both bodies were released to their families for burial following autopsies.
Mackenzie and his co-accused are facing 238 counts of manslaughter under Section 202, as read with Section 205, of the Penal Code.
They are accused of the deaths of over 238 people in Shakahola Forest between January 2021 and September 2023, allegedly as part of a suicide pact linked to Mackenzie’s Good News International Church.
They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
So far, at least eight witnesses have testified against Mackenzie and his co-accused.
On Tuesday, a male minor under the Witness Protection Agency testified about his journey from Kitale to Malindi.
The minor explained that after his mother followed Mackenzie’s teachings on TV, she contacted him to say they were heading to Malindi.
Upon arrival, they were taken to Shakahola, where Mackenzie issued orders for them to fast, starting with children, then the youth, women, and finally men.
Mackenzie claimed he would be the last to fast, and that he would grow wings and fly to heaven to meet them with Jesus.
The minor revealed that after fasting for three days, he escaped to a neighbour’s house for food but was caught and punished by Mackenzie’s men and his own mother.
He managed to escape a second time and was rescued by an old man who took him to a children’s home.
Mackenzie and his co-accused also face charges of torture, cruelty against children, violation of the Basic Education Act, terrorism, radicalisation, being members of a terrorist group, and murder.