Pastor Ezekiel Odero has stated that he is ready to reveal the truth about his alleged participation with fellow preacher Paul Mackenzie, who is now held in police custody concerning religious killings in Shakahola.
Ezekiel Odero, the pastor of The New Life Prayer Centre and Church, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Ad Hoc committee probing the expansion of religious organizations in Kenya.
Ezekiel, flanked by his lawyers Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta, appeared to separate himself from Mackenzie's claims of the killings of his followers in Shakahola.
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"This is the only time in history when the church can defend the cross; it is not about me. It is about the Gospel." Today is a day for us to reflect on what transpired and the future of the Gospel; there is a generation waiting for us tomorrow," he said.
"He will answer questions about his church and its activities," lawyer Ombeta said. A lot has been said, for better or worse. When people pose such questions now, the answers will come."
Omari indicated that the Senate committee summoned Mackenzie and would attend with him.
“Today Pastor Mackenzie of Shakahola will be in the Senate. The media should capture the difference between Pastor Ezekiel and Pastor Mackenzie. Summons have been issued for Pastor Mackenzie to be in Senate today,” he said.
“The DCI and the IG will also be in Senate, so today is a big day; all the stakeholders, those real actors in Shakahola like Mackenzie, and those actors being dragged there like Pastor Ezekiel and yet he has nothing to do with Shakahola, have their day and Kenyans to see the difference.”
Pastor Odero is expected to furnish the Senate committee with information about his New Life Prayer Centre and Church's registration and compliance status, as well as its beliefs and ideology.
He will also be asked to clarify his views on extreme indoctrination, religious follower exploitation, and his relationship with Mackenzie.
Furthermore, the committee wishes to learn from Pastor Odero the circumstances surrounding the sale of Times TV, the source of revenue for his church, and his views on religious organization regulation.
