Magistrate Ivy Wasike freed Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and his suspected accomplices after an application by the prosecution to close the file.

State prosecutor Vivian Kambaga said she wanted them to be tried in another court - on charges that will include terrorism. They have been driven to neighbouring Mombasa county, which is further south along the coast.

They were initially charged with murder, radicalisation and threatening public safety after more than 100 followers of the cult group were found in mass graves last month.

Mr Mackenzie, the leader of the group, was accused of encouraging them to starve themselves to death. He denies any wrongdoing.

A post-mortem report showed that the some of the victims were also killed through suffocation and strangulation.