DCI detectives question Pastor Ezekiel Odero over his teachings, links to Mackenzie

Televangelist Ezekiel Odero of New Life Prayer Centre and Church is under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over the alleged indoctrination of members.

This comes following the deaths and recovery of bodies related to the Good News International Church cult led by pastor Paul Mackenzie in Shakahola, Kilifi County.

DCI officers investigating the mysterious deaths associated with the Mackenzie’s Shakahola cult on Tuesday, April 25th, grilled Pastor Ezekiel over his doctrine and church operations.

The operation led by the Kilifi DCIO saw Pastor Odero record a statement over also his alleged links to pastor Mackenzie.

The DCI contingent also inspected the Milele Funeral Home in Mavueni, Kilifi County, a morgue situated near Pastor Ezekiel's church, and interrogated the morgue management regarding possible cultic operations.

On Tuesday, while inspecting the exhumation operation at Shakahola, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said that the National Police Service (NPS) is investigating flamboyant preachers whose teachings appear contrary to the law.

“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.

This also comes as Nyeri Archdiocese Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria on Wednesday called for the financial audit of church leaders in a bid to eliminate cultic worship in the society.

“It is important that we audit the wealth of all religious leaders; all of us including myself should be able to declare what I have in my account,” he said.

“And it should be something public for all the Christians who follow my church. They should know how much I have and how much I own. That is the only way the congregation can be defended from the greed of any rogue religious leaders.”

Archbishop Muheria, in accusing cult leaders of taking advantage of the poor in the society, termed the deception perpetrated by a section of religious leaders as corruption of the highest order.

“We insist that there must be laws to tame pseudo-religions, denominations and gatherings...they’re just human creations of a person who wants to deceive,” he explained.

“I don’t think it is called brainwashing, this is a deception of the highest order where very simple, gullible people...because they’re poor and miserable...that we can cheat and enslave them where they give all their goods for the good of the religious leader.”

He added: “We must be bold; this is not a question of doing a simple sanitization. We’ve seen this is deep, it is evil, and should not be repeated.”