Pastors Ezekiel and Makenzi to be arraigned on Tuesday
National
By
Patrick Beja
| May 01, 2023
Two Coast-based preachers being held by police over the death of worshippers are set to appear in a Mombasa court on Tuesday, May 2.
Goods News International church pastor Paul Makenzi and New Life Prayer Centre and Church pastor Ezekiel Odero are scheduled to appear before the Shanzu Law Courts.
The State has linked Makenzi to the deaths in Shakahola where more than 110 bodies were found buried.
Pastor Odero was last Thursday arrested at his Mavueni church in Kilifi County and is being detained at Port Police Station.
Makenzi is alleged to have indoctrinated his followers to starve to death to meet Jesus.
While the two pastors expect to be given bond, the prosecution wants them detained for more days for investigations to be completed.
Last Friday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) linked Ezekiel and Makenzi to the Shakahola deaths where more than 110 bodies have been found.
Odero's lawyer Jared Magolo said in court that the prosecution was on a fishing expedition because it had not given any evidence linking his client to Makenzi.
"You cannot blame a pastor for the death of a churchgoer if family members themselves take very sick people to the church, which is always the last resort," he noted.
But in an affidavit produced at the Shanzu court, the DPP painted Odero as Makenzi's accomplice and sought 30 days to detain him pending investigations.
State prosecutor Alexander Jamii told court that Odero and Makenzi share a common business history, particularly a television station used to pass radicalisation messages.
On Monday, Odero's other lawyer Danstan Omari visited his Mavueni church.
He said the church was not linked to Milele funeral home located 10 kilometres away.
In Malindi, Kenya Red Cross Society said 410 adherents who are believed to have joined Makenzi in Shakahola are still missing.