Followers of Ezekiel Ombok Odero will describe him as a man 0of god who could cure several illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, with holy water but to his critics, he is seen as a wolf in sheep's clothing preying on unsuspecting kenyans.

Authorities said there is credible evidence linking Pastor Ezekiel to the victims recovered at the Shakahola farm in Malindi, Kilifi County, and he was arrested on Thursday. They claimed several of his ministry's members died in their quest for divine intervention.

PHOTO | COURTESY Pastor Ezekiel

The preacher, Ezekiel, is in his forties and was born in Homabay County. He was, however, raised in Kenya's seaside Kilifi County.

The preacher began his professional career as a fisherman in Kisumu. Later, he moved to Mombasa, where he worked as a bricklayer while continuing his education.

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Odero did not attend theological school but instead worked as an understudy and keyboard player in the church of renowned televangelist Pius Muiru in Mombasa, Kenya.

He advanced through the ranks before establishing his church. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, many individuals were confined to their homes and sought spiritual guidance from televangelists. Pastor Pius Mwiru of the Maximum Miracle Center in Nairobi, his mentor, has been seen attending services with him on multiple occasions.

The televangelist ministers to his followers through his youtube channel, which has approximately 450,000 subscribers and is full of stories from Kenyans who claim to have been healed by Odero, ranging from cancer patients who were cured through prayer to blind persons who regained sight.

PHOTO | COURTESY DCI

Despite portraying himself as an ordinary man without political ties, Odero has shared the pulpit with notable figures.

Dorcas Gachagua, the pastor wife of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, attended a service in a 60,000-seat stadium in Nairobi last December.

Detectives investigating the shakahola massacre have asked the courts to allow them to hold pastor ezekiel in custody for 30 more days as they continue their investigations. They believe some people who died at pastor Ezekiel's church were buried at the shakahola burial site.