The Directorate of Public Prosecutions has disputed information released by the Judiciary concerning Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s genocide cases.
On April 27, 2023, the Judiciary through directorate of Public Affairs and Communications of the Judiciary said that Mackenzie was arrested first in 2017 but released after entering into a plea-bargaining Agreement with the ODPP.
Judiciary indicated that Mackenzie was charged alongside two other people who were directed to keep up good behaviour upon release.
According to the Judiciary the DPP later sought to withdraw charges against the pastor immediately after the agreement.
However, in what appears to be a defence case, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in a quick rejoinder disputed this allegation.
DPP claimed that they did not enter into any plea agreement and that Mackenzie was placed on his defence and later acquitted under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code by Malindi Law Courts.
“The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions wishes to clarify that the office did not enter into a plea agreement with Paul Thenge Mackenzie and that the accused was placed on his defence and subsequently acquitted pursuant to Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code and not Section 210, in the Malindi Criminal Case No. 790 of 2017,” reiterated the ODPP.
According to the ODPP, Mackenzie was, at the time, fined Ksh20,000 after pleading guilty while the other accused persons entered into a plea agreement.
The statement by the Judiciary was released after questions arose on how the accused secured freedom despite facing numerous criminal cases.
