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Kenya: Pastor Ezekiel Odero Freed On Bail

May 07, 2023

By Samuel Ouma

Televangelist Ezekiel Odero

The controversial Kenyan pastor, Ezekiel Odero of the New Life Prayer Centre, was on Thursday released after spending seven days in police custody over the alleged deaths of his followers.

A Mombasa court Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido released the preacher on a Ksh3 million ($22002) bond or Ksh1.5 million ($11001) cash bail.

The preacher was barred from making comments in public about the Shakahola massacre while investigations are ongoing.

The court further directed him to report to the police every week.

The conditions of his release will apply until the end of the investigation or until he is formally prosecuted in court.

The prosecutor wanted Odero to be detained for 30 days to pave the way for investigations. However, Magistrate Omido rejected the application, saying the prosecutor did not act in good faith.

As soon as he was freed, his supporters began to sing "it is prayer, not witchcraft" and lifted him high in celebration.

Pastor Odero and co-televangelist Paul Mackenzie are being investigated for the Shakaloha massacre in Kilifi County, a coastal part of the country, where over a hundred people died of starvation on Mackenzie's orders.

Odero is accused of conspiracy to murder, crimes against humanity, kidnapping, child maltreatment and money laundering.

According to the pastor's lawyers, 15 people died while seeking spiritual help at the pastor's Church. The 15 were reportedly in bad condition when they sought Odero's assistance.

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