In summary
- Pastor Ezekiel was arraigned in court in Shanzu on Friday morning, April 28, with police requesting the court to detain him for 30 days as they conclude investigations.
- Pastor Ezekiel’s arrest sparked protests among his followers, arguing that the state must not detain their pastor on the offence committed by another cleric
Detectives investigating the Shakahola massacre have revealed that they have credible evidence that some people who died at Pastor Ezekiel Odero’s church were buried in the piece of land belonging to Kilifi cult leader Paul Mackenzie.
Pastor Ezekiel was arraigned in court in Shanzu on Friday morning, April 28, with police requesting the court to detain him for 30 days as they conclude investigations.
The renowned televangelist is linked to several occurrence book reports of almost 100 deaths that occurred in the church between 2022 and 2023. These deaths occurred within church precincts,” Senior Prosecution Counsel Jami Yamina told the court.
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Shared Electronic ‘Pulpit’
The DCI also traced Ksh3 million in financial transactions between Pastors Ezekiel and Mackenzie for the purchase of a TV station, with the with pastor confessing to buying the TV station from Mackenzie but said the business transaction should not be linked to the Shakahola deaths.
“The buying of the TV station cannot be connected to the Shakahola killings. If such an analogue were to be sustained, then all of us who have bought second-hand cars would be held responsible for the crimes committed by previous owners, including the fights with their spouses,” his lawyer argued in court.
Pastor Ezekiel, who spent the night at the Shanzu police station, was represented by his lawyer Jared Magolo after he was arrested in Mombasa on suspicion of being pastor Mackenzie’s accomplice in the Shakahola massacre.
With regard to the deaths at Odero’s church in Mavueni, Magolo noted that “People seek spiritual intervention at the last moment when every medical intervention has failed. Now if such a person dies are we supposed to turn to the pastor and blame him for the death?”
Followers protest Detention
Pastor Ezekiel’s arrest sparked protests among his followers, arguing that the state must not detain their pastor on the offence committed by another cleric.
“I don’t think it was warranted for police to arrest Pastor Ezekiel Odero.
By Rodgers Oduor
