Image: EZEKIEL AMING’A
Pastor Ezekiel Odero of New Life Prayer Centre and Church has offered to ferry a Senate Committee to the Coast to his church in the ongoing probe into Shakahola deaths.
Appearing before the Senate Ad Hoc Committee inquiring into Shakahola deaths, Odero said he would pay for all expenses for senators who would be on that trip.
“I will pay for you to come and see what we do. I pray from the bottom of my heart that the chair of the committee convinces the members to come,” he added.
Odero distanced his church from extreme indoctrination and exploitation of followers.
He added that officers probing deaths in Shakahola Forest have never visited the church to ask questions.
“No officer has come to New Life. I wish they would come,” he stated.
The Danson Mungatana-led committee is probing refers to a religious cult in the Shakahola forest led by Paul Nthenge Mackenzie of Good News International Ministries.
Mackenzie is accused of brainwashing his converts using William Branham’s End of Days Theology and convincing them that starvation could hasten their escape from this life to be with Jesus.
As of the end of last month, a total of 429 bodies had been exhumed from Shakahola Forest.
In his submissions, Odero said he has never been to Shakahola Forest.
“The committee went to Shakahola. Come where I am and see what I do,” he added.
Odero added that he has never preached with Mackenzie.
“I only know him because I bought a TV station from him,” he stated.
Odero said he believes in preaching the gospel in a manner that does not hurt other people.
“I preach live but use recorded programmes at night. I do that because it makes it easier for someone to ask questions about what I preach. I do that also for government to listen to what I preach and know what I stand for,” he stated.
He added that his church has a capacity of 45,000 people who have never raised questions about his preachings.
“If my preachings were wrong, one person would have stood up and raised concerns. I do not advocate for exploitation or extreme indoctrination,” he stated.
He added that he never tells his followers when to eat and when not to