A Kenyan court has granted bail to Rhoda Maweu, the wife of Paul Mackenzie, a cult leader and self-proclaimed pastor accused of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people.
Rhoda Maweu had been held in custody for 62 days but has now been released on bail.
However, the court ruled that Paul Mackenzie and 16 other co-accused should remain in custody for an additional 30 days.
There has been a legal debate surrounding the prolonged detention of the suspects, but the magistrate justified their continued custody, citing it as being in the public interest.
The case involves the Good News International Church, with at least 339 people believed to have died from starvation, severe beatings, or strangulation in the Shakahola Forest in southeastern Kenya.
The Kenya Red Cross reports that 600 people are still missing.
The state emphasized that the investigations were ongoing and that the hunger strike staged by the suspects in custody had hindered the progress of the case.
Wycliffe Makasembo, the suspects’ lawyer, argued that the prosecution and the police were conducting a fishing expedition, lacking clarity on the potential charges and whether the respondents would be charged. Two other lawyers representing the suspects have recused themselves.
The next hearing is scheduled for August 1st.