The 65 followers of controversial cult leader Paul Mackenzie accused of attempting suicide after refusing to eat have been arraigned at the Shanzu Law Courts for a second time this week.
The 65 persons, who are part of the victims rescued from the vast Shakahola forest, had refused to eat while at a rescue centre in Kilifi.
They were on Monday brought before Shanzu Magistrate Court after they staged a hunger strike between June 6 and June 10.
On Monday, the DCI officer investigating the case told the court that the 65 respondents (victims) were rescued from the bushes of Shakahola on diverse dates between May 20 and June 6.
During the rescue mission, they were all in critical condition and showed signs of starvation.
They were taken for treatment and thereafter taken to a rescue centre.
However, while at the rescue centre, they declined to take their meals; that is their breakfast, lunch and supper served to them from June 6 to June 10, claiming that they wanted to die and meet their creator (God).
They also denied the minors who were among them the right to food by forcing them to fast.
The DCI also revealed that the information received from other survivors revealed that some of the 65 respondents had buried their children, wives and husbands in the Shakahola forest under unclear circumstances.
The respondents’ DNA sampling was conducted and profiling has been underway to arraign them before the court with murder and other offences against humanity.
Senior Prosecution Council Jami Yamina had asked the Shanzu Magistrate Court to allow the police to transfer the 65 victims from a rescue centre to a prison facility.
The Court is this afternoon expected to rule on whether they will be transferred to prison custody or continue being held at a rescue centre.