Pastor Ezekiel Odero of New Life Prayer Centre and Church will on Friday morning be arraigned at the Mombasa Law Courts on Friday following his arrest on Thursday.
He was arrested over the alleged indoctrination of his followers. This came just a day after he was grilled for hours over cultism, claims that he disputed.
Briefing the media Coast Regional Commissioner, Rhodah Onyancha said that various deaths have been reported on the pastor’s premises and some recorded in morgues that may be linked to him.
“We have arrested Pastor Odero of the New Prayer Centre church in Mavueni, Kilifi on allegations of deaths that have been happening on his premises and reported in various morgues and institutions,” he said.
Also, Pastor Ezekiel’a New Prayer Centre was shut down.
“We have closed down the prayer centre moving forward. Whoever is in there has been cleared out. We will be giving you updates as we progress with investigations,” Onyancha added.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has said that the Televangelist will be charged with mass killings of his followers.
“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,” Kindiki explained.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel’s lawyer Jared Magolo, said police will find nothing on the pastor.
The lawyer said he doesn’t know whether Pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church is related to Ezekiel.
“We have talked with the officers and they are investigating. They will let us know what is going on,” he said.
He said the pastor will be released by police once they are done grilling him.
