Pastor Ezekiel to remain in custody until next week

By Peter Ochieng

Televangelist Ezekiel Ombok Odero will remain a guest of the State, throughout the weekend.

The New Life Prayer Centre and Church Pastor in Mavueni, Kilifi County will be detained until May 02, 2023, when he will be taken back to court for a determination of the prosecution's application against him.

The controversial Pastor who was arrested on Thursday was arraigned at the Shanzu law courts in Mombasa on Friday morning.

He is linked to mass killing of his followers at the Church.

The prosecution sought to have him detained for 30 days as investigations against him and church operations continue.

Prosecution said if released, he may interfere with investigations.

"The grounds for extended detention are very reasonable. If freed, he could interfere with the interfaith investigations," the prosecution maintained.

Prosecution linked Ezekiel Odera to another equally controversial Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who is being detained for brainwashing his followers into 'a fast to death to meet Jesus.'

Over 100 people died and got buried in Shakahola forest, Kilifi County.

Prosecution and told the court that Ezekiel and Mackenzie are 'birds of the same feather' who have previously done business together, involving huge sums of money.

The court heard that Mackenzie sold his Times TV to Pastor Ezekiel.

His lawyer Jared Magolo however stated that his client's name should not be used to sanitise Mackenzie.

The court was told that bodies of people who died at Pastor Ezekiel's church may have been transported to Shakahola forest for burial, from towards the end of 2022.