A former prison warden has shared what he says awaits preacher Paul Mackenzie of Shakahola once he begins serving his sentence.
Shakur Kihara, who posts online as Cop Shakur Kihara, said Mackenzie will not be allowed to interact with other prisoners during his time behind bars. His post has drawn attention since it comes soon after the preacher was handed a 200 year jail term.
According to Kihara, the reason lies in how Kenyan prisons treat inmates who are capable of influencing others.
He explained that people who can radicalise fellow prisoners, such as terrorists, are kept away from the rest of the prison population to prevent radicalisation inside the facility. They are usually held in their own block, separate from other inmates.
The part that has set tongues wagging is where Mackenzie is expected to stay. Kihara said the preacher will be housed in the same block as convicted terrorists, which means he could end up interacting with Al-Shabaab convicts.
He asked who would radicalise whom, a question that reflects the worry some Kenyans have about putting two such groups together.
These are the claims of Kihara, who is not speaking for the Kenya Prisons Service. The service has not confirmed where Mackenzie will be held or how his movements will be managed, so the details remain unverified.
Mackenzie became a household name over the Shakahola tragedy, where followers were allegedly misled by his teachings. Many Kenyans have since been following closely to see how the authorities will handle him in custody.
Reactions to the post have been mixed. Some say it makes sense to keep him in a high security block, while others feel the arrangement carries its own risks. For now, the prison authorities are yet to clarify the matter.
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