In a press release on Thursday, April 27, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki confirmed that Pastor Ezekiel Odero, a well-known televangelist, would be charged with crimes for the mass murder of his followers.
Professor Kindiki’s remarks come shortly after the self-postured religious leader was arrested and detained at the Coast Police Headquarters in Mombasa pending further interrogations.
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.”
Remarked Kithure Kindiki.
The CS also confirmed that the church has so far been shut down and around 100 people found holded up in the church. The followers rescued have been moved and will record statements to the police with an aim to assist them in investigations.
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 said.
What will Pastor Ezekiel Odero be charged with?
In his released statement, CS Kithure Kindiki did not reveal in detail the number of deaths reported in the church based in Mavueni, Kilifi county. As well, the CS did not mention the date when pastor Ezekiel Odero will be arraigned in court to face the criminal charges.
Ezekiel Odero was arrested in the early morning of Thursday 27, 2023, and according to the DCI detectives, his arrest was due to him being alleged to be an accomplice of Paul Mackenzie, however, the Interior CS did not mention a word over the same.
Read: PASTOR EZEKIEL ODERO OF NEW LIFE PRAYER CENTRE UNDER ARREST
Kithure Kindiki said that Ezekiel Odero will be released once the detectives are done with the ongoing investigations.
They will release him once they are done with investigations since they have no areas to catch on.”
Kithure Kindiki said.