Pastor Ezekiel Odero Is Freed With Restrictions

Controversial Pastor Ezekiel Odero was freed from police custody on Thursday after the Shanzu law Court determined that the state had no justification to keep keeping him.

The televangelist was freed pursuant to Shanzu Senior Principal Magistrate Joe Omido’s decision on a Sh3 million bond or an alternative Sh1.5 million cash bail. While inquiries are ongoing, he nevertheless forbade Pastor Ezekiel from discussing the Shakahola massacre in public.

The televangelist was also required to appear in person once a week at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The conditions of his parole will apply until the end of the investigation or until he is formally prosecuted in court.

Once the investigations are finished, the parties are free to request that this file be closed, Ominde ruled.

Pastor Ezekiel, who was detained on April 27, is charged with indoctrinating his followers and having ties to Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who is thought to be responsible for the reported deaths of his followers in Shakahola.

In addition, he is accused of money laundering, aiding suicide, kidnapping, radicalization, genocide, crimes against humanity, and crimes against children.

While investigations were ongoing, the state wanted to hold the televangelist in custody for an additional 30 days. The deaths of members of the Shakahola cult, which are currently being investigated by the purported pastor Mackenzie, are the subject of fresh information, the prosecution told the Shanzu court.

However, the court barred the government from detaining the contentious pastor for an additional month.

The Inspector General of Police, IG Koome, was also directed by the court on Wednesday to reopen Pastor Ezekiel’s New Life Prayer Centre church, which had been shut down on Thursday, April 27, after police had detained the televangelist in Kilifi.