Televangelist Ezekiel Odero of New Life Prayer Centre and Church has been arrested over the alleged indoctrination of the public. He was arrested a day after he was grilled for hours over claims his church is also involved in occultism.
Coast Regional Commissioner Rhodah Onyancha said the pastor was arrested in Mavueni in Kilifi County and taken to Mombasa for grilling. It is not clear what the police plan to do with him although sources say there are allegations of deaths reported on his premises.
Police aware of the developments said the move to summon was prompted by the ongoing exhumation of bodies from Shakahola Forest in the area from a farm linked to pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church.
So far some 98 bodies have been recovered from graves in the forest.
Investigators have also inspected the Milele Funeral Home in Mavueni, Kilifi County, which is situated near Ezekiel’s church and interrogated the morgue attendants. The attendants have refused to divulge what they were asked but argued they had cooperated well with the police.
“Any faith that kills people or engages in criminal activities in the name of religion must be stopped, and this is the time to stop these charlatans,” said the CS.
