Pastor Ezekiel Odero will remain in police cells until Tuesday when the court will make a decision on whether he should be detained for 30 days as requested by police.
The pastor was arraigned on Friday during which police sought more time to allow for the conclusion of the probe regarding allegations surrounding his activities.
The court has directed that he be detained at Makupa Police Station.
The ruling came after the State told the court that they believe Pastor Ezekiel has links to Pastor Paul Mackenzie.
Assistant Superintendent of Police George Muriuki, in a sworn affidavit, said they believe that some dead bodies from Pastor Ezekiel's church were buried at Pastor Mackenzie's Shakahola forest.
Read More
"Upon the demise of the innocent and vulnerable followers of Odero, their bodies were preserved at a privately run morgue in Kilifi before being transported and interred in Shakahola Forest. This information is subject to ongoing investigations,” court papers seen by Nairobi Leo read in part.
The affidavit further cited an intelligence report indicating that several deaths occurred within the Odero’s New Life Ministry church at Mavueni.
Muriuki argued that 16 deaths have been reported in Kilifi police station between 2022 and 2023 and of the case each has an OB.
The state also said that many followers of Pastor Odero who sought his divine intervention lost their lives and ended up at Pastor MacKenzie's Shakahola forest land.
The court was also told that Pastor MacKenzie sold his television to Pastor Ezekiel Odero which he paid Sh500,000.
