Shakahola probe: Pastor Ezekiel Odero explains his immense wealth

Kenyan televangelist and the head of the New Life Prayer Centre and Church Pastor Ezekiel Odero when he appeared before the Senate Ad hoc Committee investigating the Shakahola deaths at Parliament on October 13, 2023. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Pastor Ezekiel Odero's New Life Church was under 24-hour police surveillance, the embattled preacher has said, even as he was pressured about his "unexplained wealth".

Odero told a parliamentary committee investigating the Shakahola massacre that what he owns, including his wristwatch, comes from offerings from the over 45,000 church congregants.

"We have constructed the best modern swimming pool, a well-equipped laboratory and stadium in Kilifi. All these were enabled by our followers, not me," Odero said.

Odero said the huge number of worshippers at his church, "45,000", made him a constant person of interest, with police officers visiting his church and home unannounced.

"I don't know where Shakahola is. I have never set my eyes on the place. I only saw it on TV," Odero yesterday told the Senate ad-hoc committee probing the Shakahola deaths.

"I first came to know of Makenzi in 2010, when I saw him on TV... I also wanted to be on TV and thought of owning a station... I approached him seeking to acquire his TV station at a fee of Sh3.5 million, paid in installments. I paid an initial amount of Sh500,000 and started using the station," said Odero, adding that he was put off by Makenzi's ideologies and stopped using the station, opening his own.

He dismissed claims that he owns a morgue, describing them as rumours and accusing investigators of rejecting offers to conduct a probe on his church.

"You can't set up a hotel and tell people to starve...you can't educate needy children and kill them. We have spent over three million in feeding the needy," said Odero, arguing that his ideology was giving back to the community.

"Instead of investigating me, the government, even the DCI, can watch my sessions and know what I teach," he added.

Odero, who appeared before the Danson Mungatana-led committee, faulted what he termed as a blanket condemnation of preachers in Kenya, urging the State to crack the whip on rogue pastors.

"In my ministry, I preach live but use recorded programmes at night. I do that because it makes it easier for someone to ask questions about what I preach. I also do it for the government to listen to what I preach and know what I stand for," he added.

Odero has had runs-in with the State since his arrest on April 27 over his alleged links to Paul Makenzi, the main suspect in the probe into the Shakahola massacre.

Odero, who runs the New Life Prayer Centre and Church at Mavueni, Kilifi, appeared in Shanzu Court but did not take a plea on any charge as police sought more time for investigations.

The government also temporarily closed Odero's church and froze his 27 bank accounts after it linked him to the Shakahola massacre. All his crusades have since April been cancelled.

According to court documents, Odero's church was registered in 2012. The church boasts of 10 million followers and the pastor claims his troubles are instigated by his competitors.

According to an affidavit produced in court, the prosecution claimed there was evidence that deaths occurred in Odero's church, which were reported to the police on April 28, 2023.

The affidavit by a detective, Mr George Muriuki, claimed a preliminary inquiry indicated that people who died at Odero's church were buried at Shakahola Forest.

Over 420 bodies have been exhumed from shallow mass graves inside the forest. The State believes the bodies are of the followers of Odero and controversial preacher Makenzi.

"These deaths were reported to the police but at the time of reporting, there was no reason to suspect that causes of deaths were criminal in nature," states the affidavit filed in May this year.

State counsel told the court that police were investigating Odero for murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, genocide, crimes against humanity, and child cruelty.

Other crimes the State has linked to Odero include fraud, money laundering, and being an accessory before or after the commission of crimes. He has denied all allegations.

The Senate committee probing the deaths in Shakahola will release its report Thursday next week.

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