The prosecution wants a court to allow them to detain Mombasa preacher Ezekiel Odero for 30 days to enable them complete investigations into murder and aiding suicide among other offenses at his church in Mavueni.
In an affidavit filed at the Shanzu law courts, the state says its undertaking investigations relating to serious crimes suspected to have been committed by Ezekiel which include murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalization, child cruelty, fraud, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Ezekiel is the founder and preacher of New Life Prayer Center in Mavueni, Kilifi county which offers social amenities including international schools, a petrol station, a hotel, and accommodation for staff.
He also runs a TV station Times TV that investigations reveal he paid Sh500,000 as part of payment of its purchase from Pastor Paul Mackenzie who is under investigation in the Shakahola massacre.
“There is credible information linking the bodies exhumed from the 800-acre piece of land in Shakahola with several innocent and vulnerable followers of the ministry believed to have met their death in their quest for divine healing at the intervention from Odero,” says the affidavit.
Police further claim that from intelligence information, they have established that several deaths occurred within Ezekiel’s church and 16 deaths have been reported in Kilifi police station between 2022 and 2023.
They argue Ezekiel might interfere with investigations if he is released from custody before the conclusion of the probe.
The intelligence information further reveals that upon the demise of the innocent and vulnerable followers of Ezekiel, their bodies were preserved at a privately run morgue in Kilifi before being transported and interred in Shakahola Forest.
“This information is subject to ongoing investigations,” reads court papers.
The state has also told the court that Ezekiel and Mackenzi share a history of business investments, especially the TV station which was used to pass radicalization messages to believers.
The application will be heard Friday, April 28 before the Shanzu law courts on whether the court will allow his further detention.
Both men are in custody over deaths on their premises as police probe cultism.
Ezekiel was arrested on Thursday from his Mavueni premises and is expected in court Friday, April 28, 2023.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Thursday said Ezekiel will face criminal charges related to the mass killing of his followers.
He was arrested on Thursday morning over suspected deaths at his church as police widen an investigation over allegations of the deaths that have been occurring at his premises.
Kindiki notified the public of the pastor’s arrest saying; “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.”
“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.”
So far 109 bodies have been recovered from Shakahola forest as exhumation continues.
Dozens more bodies are believed to be buried in shallow graves therein.
Some 34 people have been rescued from starvation.
Mackenzie, who is in police custody, is being investigated for influencing his followers to starve to death in order to meet their maker.
Police also suspect that some of the victims did not starve to death and may have been killed and then buried on the property.
He has denied wrongdoing but has been refused bail. He insists that he shut down his church in 2019.
The followers say he told them to starve themselves in order to “meet Jesus“.
