Is Pastor Ezekiel Arrested? Why was Pastor Ezekiel Arrested? Has Pastor Ezekiel Been Released Today?
by Ushapriyanga
Updated May 03, 2023
Is Pastor Ezekiel Arrested?
Pastor Ezekiel Odero's detention has been extended by two days as the court has scheduled his case to be heard on May 4. He was arrested on April 27, and the police had requested a 30-day detention period for investigation purposes, but the court has only allowed a detention of seven days. Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido has ordered that the matter will be mentioned on May 4.
According to reports on April 27, the authorities in Kenya announced that Ezekiel Odero, a Christian televangelist, would be charged for the "mass killing of his followers." This comes shortly after the discovery of a mass grave connected to another church, where 103 bodies were found.
The head of the New Life Prayer Centre and Church, Odero, has been taken into custody and is currently undergoing legal procedures. The statement was made by Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki.
Why was Pastor Ezekiel Arrested?
In response to claims of mass murders, Kenyan authorities have detained a well-known televangelist and closed down his church on the nation's Indian Ocean coast. Although the police have not yet formally linked the two cases, investigations into a religious cult that has been linked to the deaths of almost 100 people are still ongoing.
Pastor Ezekiel Odero, known for drawing sizable audiences to his activities, was detained after the police searched a funeral house next to his church where mortuary workers had been removing bodies. The preacher is scheduled to appear in court on Friday but has not yet reacted to the accusations. His purported connections to controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie Nthenge are also being investigated by the authorities.
Has Pastor Ezekiel been Released Today?
Pastor Ezekiel Odero, who is being investigated for his alleged involvement in the Shakahola mass killings in Kilifi, has been denied bail by a court in Shanzu, Mombasa. Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Amido of the Shanzu Law Courts granted the prosecution until May 4, 2023, to complete their investigations and ordered that the matter be mentioned on that date.
Amido ruled that Odero should be detained for seven days, starting from the day of his arrest on April 27, citing concerns that the pastor's perceived influence could interfere with witnesses. However, he deemed 30 days an excessive period for detention. Odero was represented by several lawyers, including Danstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta, and Jared Magolo.
Pastor Ezekiel Released Today
In order to prevent a magistrate court from deciding whether or not Pastor Ezekiel Odero should be jailed for 30 days, he filed a petition with the High Court. He is asking for the decision to be overturned and his immediate release. Pastor Ezekiel, who is defending the New Life Prayer Centre and Church, says the accusations against him are politically driven and that he has no connection to Pastor Paul Mackenzie.
In addition, he asserts that he has never brought cadavers to Shakahola and disputes that he has a mortuary near his place of ministry. The preacher disputes reports that he acquired a TV channel from Mackenzie and maintains that he is unconnected to the latter. He claims in his declaration that he began his ministry.
Is Pastor Ezekiel Arrested-FAQs
Ezekiel Odero is a popular Kenyan televangelist who was arrested in April 2023 for his alleged involvement in mass deaths linked to a religious cult.
The religious cult is not named in the news articles, but it is reported to be linked to the deaths of nearly 100 people in Kenya, many of whom were children.
Ezekiel Odero was accused of allowing bodies to be collected at his church premises and was being investigated for his alleged involvement in the mass deaths.
Ezekiel Odero was accused of buying a TV channel from Pastor Paul Mackenzie after facing frustrations with him.