1 of two Kenyan pastors in hunger cult probe eligible for launch on bond

• A Kenyan court docket has set a 3 million shilling bond for pastor Ezekiel Odero, an affiliate of hunger cult chief and mass homicide suspect Paul Mackenzie.
• Odero’s attorneys acknowledge that 15 of his followers died at his church, however all had been reported and police didn’t suspect foul play on the time.
• The court docket claimed it had no purpose to maintain Odero in custody.

A court docket in Kenya dominated Thursday that one in every of two pastors below investigation for the deaths of greater than 100 of their congregants, lots of whom are believed to have starved to dying, could possibly be launched on bond or bail.

Pastor Ezekiel Odero was arrested final week in reference to the deaths of dozens of his congregants at his coastal megachurch, which attracts 1000’s of individuals from throughout the nation. Police closed the church, however attorneys have filed an software, scheduled to be heard Monday, to have it reopened.

Odero’s parishioners turned up outdoors the court docket Thursday to wish for his launch, which was granted provided that he put up a bond within the quantity of three million Kenyan shillings (about $22,000) or money bail of 1.5 million shillings ($11,000). The court docket mentioned there was no ample purpose to maintain the pastor in custody.

KENYAN PASTORS APPEAR IN COURT OVER FOLLOWERS’ DEATHS, STARVATION CULT

Odero’s attorneys acknowledged after his arrest that 15 individuals died at his church however mentioned the deaths had been reported at a police station as required by legislation. Police have mentioned there was no proof on the time to counsel against the law was concerned.

Odero can also be below investigation for his ties to Paul Mackenzie, the pastor of one other church in Kilifi county. Mackenzie was arrested after emaciated parishioners had been present in his property and his followers mentioned he had instructed them to quick to dying earlier than the world ends with the intention to meet Jesus.

Kenyan pastor Ezekiel Odero, an affiliate of cult chief Paul Mackenzie, has been deemed eligible to be launched on a 3 million shilling ($22,000) bond. (AP Photo/Maarufu Mohamed)

Police have been looking his 800-acre property positioned in a forested distant space the place dozens of mass graves had been dug out and greater than 100 our bodies discovered.

Autopsies on the our bodies had been ongoing, however accomplished ones confirmed a few of the buried individuals had died of hunger, strangulation or suffocation.

SECOND KENYAN PASTOR JAILED AS STARVATION CULT DEATH TOLL SURPASSES 100

A decrease court docket freed Mackenzie this week however he was rearrested and offered to a better court docket. Prosecutors requested extra time to pursue potential terrorism-related fees. Police have mentioned their investigations pointed to indicators of radicalization.

Mackenzie is because of seem in court docket Friday, when an software to carry him for an additional 30 days pending will probably be heard.

Mackenzie bought Odero a tv channel in 2019 when he closed his church and moved with some congregants to his property within the forested space.

Kenya’s nationwide communications authority suspended Odero’s TV channel for airing inappropriate content material on exorcism throughout hours when grownup programming shouldn’t be allowed.