Kenyan authorities stated on Thursday, April 27, that they had detained another pastor in connection with the “mass killing of his followers” just days after the discovery of dozens of dead tied to another church.
The head of the New Life Prayer Centre and Church, Ezekiel Odero, “has been arrested and is being processed to face criminal charges related to the mass killing of his followers,” stated Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki in a statement.
“The aforementioned church has been closed. Over 100 persons who were holed up at the location have been removed and will be forced to record statements,” he added.
Odero’s arrest follows an ongoing investigation into Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, the cult leader accused of killing 98 people associated with his church.
The self-proclaimed preacher is accused of advising his followers to starve themselves to death as a means of reaching God.
The majority of those discovered in mass graves have been youngsters, and authorities fear that the death toll may grow as their search expands.
Kindiki called the case “the clearest abuse of the constitutionally enshrined human right to freedom of worship.”
According to local media, Nthenge was detained again last month after two toddlers died of starvation while in the hands of their parents. He was released on 100,000 Kenyan shillings ($700) bail after a raid on his farm in the Shakahola forest turned up bodies.
On May 2, Nthenge is scheduled to appear in court.A Kenyan pastor has been charged with’mass murdering’ church members.
