According to the State, Joseph Juma Buyuka died at Malindi Hospital after complications from a hunger strike. He was allegedly among the suspects who staged a 10-day hunger strike. Another two of the controversial pastor’s followers Evans Kolombe Sirya and Frederick Karimi are said to be in critical condition at Malindi Hospital.
Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda was on Tuesday, June 21, 2023, informed of the follower’s death by Senior Principal Prosecution Counsel Yamina Jamii.
Jamii told the court that the deceased, died two days ago while receiving treatment at the hospital. The other two are currently under medication due to complications associated with a hunger strike.
“The two are currently admitted to the medical facility, we shall be filing a report on the status of their health within a week or so,” said the prosecutor.
The state has asked the court to dispense with the appearances of the two suspects in court until their health condition is restored and they are fit to be presented in court. The prosecutor added that Buyuka died as a result of a hunger strike and self-imposed starvation.
Jamii additionally told the court that the follower declined to eat and drink while being held in custody.“He is believed to have died as a result of a hunger strike and self-imposed starvation.” stated Mr. Jamii.
“The aide had declined to eat and drink while being held at Watamu Police Station. He died two days ago this is the new development that the court should be made aware of,” Jamii said.
The prosecutor disclosed that Mackenzie’s aide died at Malindi Hospital after being rushed there from where he was being held. He added that the State was awaiting an autopsy report to determine the cause of his death.
“The State is waiting for the postmortem to be conducted on his body to ascertain the cause of death,” Jamii told the court.
At the same time, two lawyers, George Kariuki and Elisha Komora, who were representing controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused have withdrawn their services in the case before the Shanzu Law Courts, citing frustration from the state in handling the case against their clients.
“Since the beginning of the case, despite our calls for our clients to be treated well, our efforts have been in vain,” said Kariuki.
The government has in the meantime temporarily halted the exhumation of bodies in Shakahola forest to allow for the commencement of the third round of autopsies scheduled to start on June 21, 2023. Since the exhumation began on April 21, 2023, there have been 336 dead bodies exhumed, with fears that there may still be more bodies yet to be found.
