Pastor Ezekiel Arrested In Mombasa

Coast Regional Commissioner Onyancha while addressing the media on Thursday, April 27 confirmed the arrest of the pastor

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Apr 27, 2023 - 07:47 Updated: Apr 27, 2023 - 08:11
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Pastor Ezekiel Arrested In Mombasa
Pastor Ezekiel carrying a Bible after being arrested in Mombasa on April 27, 2023. /TWITTER

Pastor Ezekiel Odero of New International Life Church, Kilifi has been arrested in Mombasa on suspicion of being pastor Paul Mackenzie's accomplice in the Shakahola massacre.

Coast Regional Commissioner Rhodah Onyancha while addressing the media on Thursday, April 27 confirmed the arrest of the pastor, adding that his church was closed down.

"This morning we have arrested Pastor Ezekiel Odero at Makueni in Kilifi County for allegations of the deaths that have been occurring at his premises and reported in various media institutions. 

Pastor Ezekiel ministering at Kasarani stadium on November 27, 2022. /TWITTER

"We have also taken action and closed the prayer centre. We are urging and giving information to the public that the church has been closed and whatever was in there has been cleared out," she stated.

Onyancha further noted that Pastor Ezekiel was being questioned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Mombasa County.

The commissioner also noted that 22 suspects believed to be Mackenzie's accomplices were apprehended.

A contingent of DCI officers questioned the management of the Mortuary, which is located near Pastor Ezekiel's church, on Wednesday, April 26.

Pastor Ezekiel was also questioned over the alleged deaths in his church but denied the indoctrination accusations presented against him.

While inspecting the exhumation operation at Shakahola on Tuesday, April 25 Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stated that the National Police Service (NPS) is eyeing flamboyant preachers whose teachings flout the rule of law.

“Any faith that kills people or engages in criminal activities in the name of religion must be stopped, and this is the time to stop these charlatans," said the CS.

Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria called on the government to carry out a financial audit for all religious leaders to crack down on quack preachers fond of using controversial teachings to mislead the masses.

"It is important that we audit the wealth of all religious leaders; all of us including should be able to declare what I have in my account.

"It should be something public for all the Christians who follow my church. They should know how much I have and how much I own. That is the only way the congregation can be defended from the greed of any rogue religious leaders," he stated during a press briefing on Wednesday, April 26.

By the time of publication, 98 bodies had been exhumed from his Shakahola forest land with detectives pitching camp in the forest to exhume all bodies that were illegally buried.

Security officers exhuming bodies at Shakahola graves in Kilifi County on Sunday, April 23, 2023. /FILE

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