Controversial ex-preacher Paul Nthenge Makenzi has been released by a Malindi court after the Director of Public Prosecution asked the court to close his case file.
Mr Makenzi and six of his accomplices who appeared before Principal Magistrate Ivy Wesike were however rearrested and driven to Shanzu law courts in Mombasa County to face terrorism and radicalization-related charges.
The prosecution led by Vivian Kambaga applied for the court cases of Makenzi at the Malindi law courts to be closed since he was about to face serious charges that are not in the jurisdiction of the Malindi law courts.
Mrs Wesike allowed the hence releasing Makenzi and six others unconditionally.
Security was tight inside and outside the courtroom, as the suspects were brought in with officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) being stationed to avert any security threat from a crowd that had pulled outside.
Families of victims and civil societies led by Haki Afrika’s Mathias Shipeta welcomed the ruling, saying that Makenzi needed to be charged with serious crimes against humanity.
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