Pastor Ezekiel Odero of New Life Prayer Centre and Church, has today appeared before the Senate AD hoc Committee probing the Shakahola deaths.
Pastor Odero has distanced himself from the Shakahola massacre, stating his church has never indoctrinated any of its followers. Odero who was accompanied by his lawyers, denied ever setting foot in Shakahola, Kilifi County.
“I don’t know where Shakahola is. I only saw it on TV and was shocked at what was happening. Did the police not establish what was really happening in the area considering the mass graves found? Odero stated.
Odero also claimed he has never worked with controversial preacher Paul Mackenzi, who is the main suspect in the massacre of over 400 people in Shakahola forest.
“I first came to know about Paul Mackenzi on TV. I wanted to be on TV so I looked for him. He offered to sell me his TV station sometime in 2021, which I paid partially but later bought me own TV station. That is how I came to know him and that is all I know about him,” he added.
Odero also said that what he owns including his wrist watch comes from offerings by his over 45,000 church members.
“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.
The pastor faulted what he termed as a blanket condemnation of preachers in Kenya, but said the government should crack the whip on rogue pastors.
The Senate AD Hoc committee is expected to release its report on Thursday, October 19.
