Ezekiel Odero, a controversial preacher, and Paul Mackenzie, the leader of the Kilifi cult, Kenya are not strangers to one another, a Shanzu court was informed on Friday.
Police claimed they had discovered a connection between Mackenzie, who allegedly persuaded his followers to starve to death in order to meet God, and Odero of the Mavueni-based New Life Church.
According to the State’s attorney, there is solid proof that some of the deceased from Odero’s church were interred on Mackenzie’s property in Shakahola.
“He is linked to several occurrence book reports of almost 100 deaths that occurred in the church between 2022 and 2023. These deaths occurred within church precincts,”
Senior Prosecution Counsel Jami Yamina told the court.
Police added that they had tracked financial transactions between Odero and Mackenzie for the purchase of a TV station totaling Sh3 million.
Although Odero acknowledged purchasing the TV station from Mackenzie, he argued that the business deal shouldn’t be connected to the Shakahola deaths.
“The buying of the TV station cannot be connected to the Shakahola killings. If such an analogy were to be sustained, then all of us who have bought second-hand cars would be held responsible for the crimes committed by previous owners, including the fights with their spouses,” his lawyer argued in court.
Lawyer Jared Magolo defended Odero, who spent the night at the Shanzu police station.
About the fatalities noted at Odero’s church in Mavueni, his attorney stated: “When all other medical interventions have failed, people turn to spiritual guidance. Now, are we supposed to blame the pastor if one of these people passes away?”
Authorities asked the court to hold him for 30 days while they finished their inquiries.
According to evidence presented in court, Odero is being looked into for murder, aiding suicide, kidnapping, radicalization, genocide, crimes against humanity, child abuse, fraud, money laundering, and being an accessory to crimes.
Shanzu Chief Magistrate Joseph Omido insisted that Odero must remain in custody at the Port police station until May 2, when the court will rule on the police’s request to hold him for 30 days.