Some of the female remandees charged alongside controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie have staged a hunger strike, protesting what they describe as mistreatment at Shimo la Tewa Prison.
The women are among 92 individuals facing 283 counts of manslaughter alongside Paul Mackenzie.
Through their lawyer, Lawrence Obonyo, the suspects claimed they have been subjected to beatings and verbal abuse from female prison officers.
The advocate informed the court that one of the suspects, identified as Alice, had been physically assaulted, forced to sleep on the floor, and denied adequate food rations.
Obonyo further revealed that she was stripped naked in front of other remandees and officers as a form of humiliation.
The lawyer told Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku that the suspect, who is of advanced age, sustained facial swelling, adding that the treatment she has received is not only inhumane but illegal.
The women also claimed they are forced to remove their undergarments whenever they are transported from the prison to the court in Mombasa.
“They have complained that, in addition to beatings, some have been subjected to inhumane treatment, including the squeezing of their breasts and being stripped naked. Some of these suspects have not eaten for the last nine days to express their disappointment with how the prison authorities have treated them,” Obonyo told the court.
Another suspect, identified as Carolyne, allegedly had her breasts touched inappropriately without justification and was struck at the back of her head.
A remandee, Miss Kawira, informed the court that she had been kept in isolation for 21 days without access to basic hygiene facilities, such as a bucket for urination.
“Shanzu Court conducted a fundraiser to buy mattresses for the accused persons, yet some are still compelled to sleep on the floor. These mattresses are still unavailable,” the lawyer added.
He also mentioned that the prime suspect’s wife, Rhoda Mumbua, had expressed regret over being denied the chance to meet her family.
In response, the court summoned the officer in charge of Shimo La Tewa Women’s Prison, Sylvensia Oyugi, to address the allegations.
However, Oyugi, under the guidance of Attorney General’s representative Emmanuel Makuto, told the court that she had not received any official complaints from the accused persons. She expressed her willingness to listen to their concerns if made aware of them.
She assured the court that she could not allow a fellow woman to be humiliated and promised to investigate the claims and take appropriate action to ensure the suspects are not subjected to further unnecessary mistreatment.
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