A photo collage of Pastor Ezekiel Odero being escorted by police following his arrest on April 27, 2023.
Photo
Kithure Kindiki
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, on Thursday, April 27, announced that Pastor Ezekiel Odero would be charged with criminal charges relating to the mass killing of his followers.
This followed his arrest in Kilifi County after his church, New Life Prayer Centre, was shut down.
Kindiki also revealed that 100 people found holed up in the church were assisting the police with investigations.
"It is notified for information of the general public that today Thursday, 27th April 2023, Mr Ezekiel Ombok Odero, the Head of New Life Prayer Centre/Church at Mavueni within Malindi Sub-County of Kilifi County, has been arrested and is being processed to face criminal charges related to the mass killing of his followers.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Photo
The Senate of Kenya
"The said Church has been shut down. The over 100 people who were holed up at the premises have been evacuated and will be required to record statements," he stated.
Kindiki's statement came hours after the pastor was taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) regional headquarters in Mombasa County.
The pastor was initially grilled on Wednesday, April 26 in relation to alleged reports of deaths in his church.
In his statement, Kindiki did not detail the number of deaths reported in the church based in Kilifi County.
The CS did not also indicate when the pastor will be charged in court.
On his part, Odero's lawyer, Jared Magolo, indicated that there was no evidence to prove the allegations brought up against his client.
He also played down reports that his client had links with controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie who is accused of radicalising his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus.
"They will release him once they are done with investigations since they have no areas to catch on," he stated.
A photo collage of Paul Mackenzie speaking during an interview on March 24, 2023 (left) and police officers digging graves at the Shakahola Forest on April 24, 2023 (right).
Photo
National Police Service
