Popular Pastor Ezekiel Odero has been arrested. Police have also closed down Pastor Ezekiel’s Mavueni mega church in Kilifi.
Rhoda Onyancha, the Coast Regional Coordinator, confirmed that the preacher was being questioned by police in Mombasa.
A video published by the Nation on Thursday, April 25, showed the preacher arriving at Mombasa’s Central Police Station.
Senior police officers at the station welcomed the preacher, who was wearing clergy attire and holding a Bible.
Media attempts to interview the preacher were unsuccessful since all he did was smile at the waiting cameras as he was led into the questioning room.
BREAKING: Pastor Ezekiel Odero arrested#Shakahola #ShakaholaMassacre #Ezekiel #PastorEzekiel #EzekielOdero
For more : https://t.co/Rz9c7dQRQh pic.twitter.com/KjciCoc5QJ
— Kennedy murithi (@murithi_kenn) April 27, 2023
Pastor Ezekiel’s arrest follows mass deaths at a compound purportedly owned by cult leader Paul Mackenzie, whose church is also situated in Kilifi.
The interior cabinet secretary, Kithure Kindiki, said on Tuesday, April 25, that police were looking into flashy preachers whose beliefs appeared to go against what the law permits.
In remarks that seemed to refer to Pastor Ezekiel, Kindiki said the preacher was based in Kilifi.
“We have opened an inquiry into another preacher who is headquartered here in Kilifi, and we are finding significant information that will soon enable us to draw logical conclusions.”
“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,” Kindiki said.
Investigations into the life and teachings of Pastor Ezekiel Odero are being conducted at a time when Kenyans are perplexed by the Shakahola Massacre, which has so far led to the exhumation of over 90 bodies and the rescue of over 30 people who were starving to death.
A controversial pastor named Paul Mackenzie has so far been detained in relation to the deaths.
READ ALSO: Pastor Ezekiel Grilled by DCI
Noordin Haji, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), recommended charging him with terrorism, genocide, radicalisation, and encouraging people to end their lives.
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