Pastor Ezekiel Odero's lawyers, on Tuesday, May 9, listed inconsistencies in police and autopsy reports, accusing the government of targeting the pastor's wealth.
According to the lawyers, the gaps in the autopsy reports and recent sentiments by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki contradicting the police raised critical questions about the motive of the investigation.
The three lawyers, Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta, and Jared Magolo, argued that the government pathologist Johansen Odour did not reveal any missing organs in the bodies retrieved as alleged by the police.
His reports contradicted Chief Inspector Martin Munene, who linked Ezekiel's New Life Prayer Centre to the Shakahola massacre, where at least 130 bodies were exhumed.
According to the government pathologist, some victims died by starvation, being hit by a blunt object, or strangulation.
“For one of them, we could clearly see marks on the neck similar to those of someone who had been strangled with the breaking of some bones in the neck. We are certain that this person, who was a child, was actually strangulated," Odour explained.
Omari thus cited Oduor's statement to counter Chief Inspector Martin Munene of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
"We heard Odour state that none of the bodies were missing any organ. So these are politics," Omari argued.
On Tuesday, May 9, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki also dismissed claims that some bodies missed crucial organs.
"For now treat the claims of missing body parts as rumours. People who have facts are those on the ground not those in offices," Kindiki noted.
The CS further argued that the investigations and some allegations were being politicised as police continue to exhume bodies at Shakahola forest.
“If they want to do politics there are other places where they can hold their rallies and speak. We have instructed officers here led by Coast Regional Coordinator Rhoda Onyancha not to give access to anyone unless they have a role to demonstrate," Kindiki stated.
On the basis of Kindiki's statement, lawyer Jared Ogola added that Ezekiel was under a witchhunt, and the court, upon assessing the evidence presented by the defence, may be convinced to exonerate him.
On Monday, May 8, police convinced the court to freeze over 16 bank accounts owned by the televangelist, while linking him to the Shakahola massacre reportedly orchestrated by controversial pastor, Paul Mackenzie.
