Photo Credit: NTV Kenya
Ezekiel Odero, a controversial pastor in Kenya, has been linked to the death of over 100 people who were asked to starve to death so that they could meet God.
On Friday, Jami Yamina, a senior prosecutor in the case, told a court that some people who died at Odero’s church were buried on a piece of land in Shakahola forest belonging to Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, the cult leader.
“He is linked to several occurrence book reports of almost 100 deaths that occurred in the church between 2022 and 2023. These deaths occurred within church precincts,” Nation, a local media quoted Yamina to have said.
However, Odero’s lawyer argued that “people seek spiritual intervention at the last moment when every medical intervention has failed. Now if such a person dies, are we supposed to turn to the pastor and blame him for the death?
Advertisement
Odero and Nthenge share a “history of business investments” including a television station that was used to pass “radicalised messages” to thousands of followers, prosecutors said.
Odero is being investigated for murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, genocide, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud, money laundering, and being an accessory to crimes, the court heard.
Joe Omido, the chief magistrate, ordered the pastor to be detained at the police station until May 2 when the court would deliver a ruling on an application to detain him for 30 days.
Advertisement
Nthenge is also due in court on Tuesday.
Kithure Kindiki, interior cabinet secretary, said it appeared that what happened at Nthenge’s church was “the tip of the iceberg”.
The death toll now stands at 109.
After paying another visit to the crime scene, Kindiki said “the government has upscaled the search and rescue efforts for persons suspected to be holed up in the thickets in Shakahola”.
Advertisement
He said security agencies were doing their best to save as many lives as possible.
Advertisement
Add a comment
