Malindi Law Court has dismissed an application by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain 11 suspected cult members who have been linked to the death of two children in Kilifi.
The DCI had asked the court to allow them to detain the Kanisa La Mungu, Neno la Kweli cult members at Kilifi police station for another 30 days to complete investigations into the alleged cult.
In their submissions, they asked the court to take cognisance of the recent Shakahola incident and that the Prevention of Terrorism Act provides for a maximum of 90 days for detention during investigation of matters under the Act.
According to the DCI, the suspects were being investigated for terrorism and manslaughter.
However, Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki released the 11 accused, giving the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) only a short time to decide in court whether to charge all or any of them with any offence.
Chief Magistrate Mwaniki said the DCI’s application was an abuse of court procedure.
In his ruling, the Magistrate cited the Shakahola incident and the Prevention of Terrorism Act saying it was was just a ploy by the DCI to make the court believe that the new application was different from the one heard and decided by the Kilifi court.
