The grounds for the arrest of televangelist Ezekiel Odero have continued to elicit debate among Kenyans.
The popular preacher was apprehended on Thursday, April 27, and taken to the Coast Regional Police Headquarters in Mombasa for grilling.
The New Life Prayer Center and Church founder is accused of, among other things, the mass killing of faithful whose bodies were buried in Shakahola forest, Kilifi county.
The latest to pose tough questions as regards Ezekiel's arrest is Millie Odhiambo, who implies that the preacher could be detained on unfounded grounds.
The Suba North MP wonders what could be the connection between Ezekiel and the deadly cult associated with Pastor Paul Mackenzie, another controversial cleric in whose church over a hundred faithful have died due to starvation.
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Millie observed that the attention has significantly shifted from Mackenzie to Ezekiel, yet serious questions that need answers lie with Mackenzie in whose church, as per evidence, the faithful died due to starvation.
According to the lawmaker, all the burden of proof evidently lies on Mackenzie, given that detectives have linked the deaths with his Good News International church.
She wondered whether there is a likelihood that Ezekiel is being used as a scapegoat to shadow Mackenzie and his iniquities.
"The focus is now shifting from Mackenzie to Ezekiel. Why? Is Pastor Ezekiel a scapegoat? Let us deal with real issues here. Who lured people to fast until they died? Who failed to notify the police of these deaths and who buried them? It will also be interesting to see what offences both of them will be charged with?" she posed.
Millie said she would like to see the charges that would be preferred on Ezekiel given that evidence is yet to be presented so far.
"Still waiting to see what pastor Ezekiel is accused of- being apparently wealthy or failing to heal people who sought his spiritual help for healing?" asked Millie.
Ezekiel is being detained over his alleged hand in the mass killing of some believers in his church.
Detectives are also seeking to establish his links with Mackenzie who is accused of masterminding the deaths of his followers who were buried in Shakahola forest.
Ezekiel will be presented to a Mombasa court on Tuesday, May 2, when a request by the prosecution to detain him for 30 days will be determined.
The prosecution argued the preacher would interfere with the course of the probe and thus the need to have him behind bars as the investigators carry on with their work.
Meanwhile, exhumation in the Shakahola fields is ongoing, with bodies counting in upward of a hundred.
