Televangelist Ezekiel Odero Admits 15 People Died in His Church
Televangelist Ezekiel Odero has admitted that 15 people have died in his church since it started operations 18 months ago.
Addressing the media on Saturday, the preacher’s attorneys Cliff Ombeta, Danstan Omari and Shadrack Wamboi said the victims sought spiritual intervention while in critical condition.
"In the one year and a month that the institution has been in existence, around 15 people have died within Pastor Ezekiel's premises," said Omari.
Omari noted that Pastor Ezekiel’s New Life Prayer Centre and Church has a policy where critically ill people seeking prayers must be accompanied by their relatives.
"Once these people die, the persons accompanying them report the deaths to the nearest police station. The number of OBs recorded with the police will attest to this. No death has occurred with the police not involved,” the lawyer added.
The lawyers spoke to journalists outside Port police station in Mombasa County where Pastor Ezekiel is being held following his arrest in relation to the deaths of his followers.
On Friday, Shanzu Chief Magistrate Joe Omido ordered that he be detained until Tuesday when the court will deliver a ruling on the police application to detain him for 30 days to allow the conclusion of investigations.
Ezekiel is being investigated for several offenses including fraud, money laundering, murder, aiding suicide, radicalization, crimes against humanity, and child cruelty.
Detectives handling the case say credible intelligence revealed that some of the deceased individuals who died at Pastor Ezekiel’s church in Mavueni, Kilifi County may have been buried at the Shakahola land where the bodies of 109 people have been exhumed.
The 800-acre Shakahola land is believed to be owned by Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who is accused of manipulating his church members to fast to death in order to meet Jesus.
Pastor Mackenzie, who leads Good News International Church, is also in police custody awaiting prosecution.
Comments (10)
These churches have become cemeteries. They must be held with contempt that they deserve and be closed down for good. Local leaders are a disgrace and should be held negligently liable for all those deaths. Under their watch, innocent people have been killed by religion.
These pastors ,who are doing these human sacrifices ,are & were all part of William Kalejinga Ruto campaign.
All of them.
If the ultra-right members of the current Israel parliament had their way, anyone found proselytizing by making an effort to spread the gospel of the late son of Mariam would be imprisoned for a year in jail.
I just wonder why the people of COHO (Continent of Human Origins a.k.a. Africa) are so easy to mentally hack/brainwash?
A good number of COHO people have a foreign or foreign name(s), speak a former colonial language at home with members of their families, despise anything COHO, especially, food, culture, indigenous religions, or their skin color and texture of their hair?
We need renaissance in COHO. When? Today.
They need to put a display on this Church that says "15 people die per year in this Church"
He’s not the only one.
The pastors who were & are part of William Kalejinga Ruto campaign need to be investigated.
Mpesa pastors. Even the mpesa pastors with YouTuber channels.
Just to call this guy an evangelist is a mockery.How did a Bible-obsessed loner transform himself into all-lying cult leader spreading false gospel.Blasphemous and no excuse for his lazy lies but there are always gullible people who will be taken in by such prophesies.
I warned my mum about this prophet of doom, she didn't listen to a word I told her, the next thing I heard she was on board a Mombasa bond train, although nothing bad I assume happened to her, I believe her bank account suffered an irreparable damage, being thousands of miles away what can I do?
... But when Mama Ida says these preachers need to be reigned in, you were all up in arms against her.....
Ida the mouthpiece of Rao wants church closed so waganga can reign supreme. Shetani ashindwe
I believe in church but if that number of ppl died that's human sacrifice. Jesus would raise pp from the dead and He authorized believers to do the same