The wife of the Deputy President, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi on Thursday broke her silence for the first time about the Shakahola Horrors and controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie.
In a statement, Pastor Dorcas condemned the blanket condemnation of the Christian faithful in the country saying that Mackenzie is a criminal and not a pastor.
She said that the country is governed by the law and criminals and terrorists should be dealt with in accordance with the constitution.
“If Paul Mackenzie is a criminal, he should be treated as an individual. Even his family should not be part of his crime. Paul Mackenzie is not the church, in fact, he has said he is not a pastor but he is Mr. Paul,” she said.
She further cautioned against the generalization of the church or religious organizations when a rogue leader violates the law saying that individuals should bear their responsibilities regardless of their position in society.
She said the law should be applied and if found guilty he (Mackenzie) should be put behind bars.
“We have a law where when somebody is a criminal the procedure should be followed, but we cannot stand there and say because one Christian has been caught in a compromising situation the whole body of Christ should be condemned. A criminal is a criminal, a terrorist is a terrorist, a murderer is a murderer. Let them be taken through the law and be prosecuted if they are guilty, let them be put behind bars,” she said.
“Let us follow the law and the Constitution, which allow the freedom of worship, and not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others. Let us also allow the criminal justice system to deal with this issue, and if those involved are prosecuted, then we can know who is guilty and put them behind bars. But you cannot condemn every Christian.”
She was speaking at the House of Grace Church Nairobi where she fed more than 300 widows from Kibra, Lang’ata Constituency Nairobi County.
Her sentiments came just hours after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Pastor Ezekiel Odero, the head of the New Life Prayer Centre and Church, will face criminal charges related to mass killing of his followers.
Pastor Odero was arrested on Thursday morning over suspected deaths at his church as police widen an investigation over allegations of the deaths that have been occurring at his premises.
“It is notified for information of the general public that today Thursday, 27th April 2023, Mr Ezekiel Ombok Odero the Head of New Life Prayer Centre/Church at Mavueni within Malindi Sub-County of Kilifi County has been arrested and is being processed to face criminal charges related to mass killing of his followers,” Kindiki said in a statement.
“The said Church has been shut down. The over 100 people who were holed up at the premises have been evacuated and will be required to record statements,” Kindiki further said.
Earlier on, Coast Regional Coordinator Rhoda Onyancha, told the press, the pastor will be questioned by detectives at the Coast Police Headquarters in Mombasa.
“We have arrested Pastor Ezekiel of the New Prayer Centre and Church at Mavueni in Kilifi County on allegations of the deaths that have been occurring at his premises and reported in various morgues or institutions,” said Ms Onyancha.
“We have also taken action and closed the prayer centre going forward,” she told reporters, without elaborating further on the nature of the allegations against Odero or his church.
Police have not connected him to Paul Mackenzie, the alleged cult leader under investigation for the deaths of 100 people linked to his church, also based in the coastal region.
Pastor Odero, dressed in his signature all-white garb and clutching a Bible, was transferred from Malindi to the regional police headquarters in Mombasa for questioning. A wealthy televangelist who draws huge crowds, Pastor Odero’s church south of Malindi can seat 40,000 people.
Last year, Pastor Dorcas was among thousands of Kenyans who thronged Kasarani stadium to attend a crusade led by the Mombasa-based televangelist.
Dorcas Gachagua (r) and Pastor Ezekiel Odero (l) during a past crusade. PHOTO | COURTESY.
She stated that Kenyans were starving for the word of God after the stadium was filled to capacity.
She also added that the multitude had gone to witness miracles, healings and wonders by pastor Ezekiel.
Pastor Ezkiel’s arrest comes in the wake of the discovery of mass graves at an expansive land allegedly owned by cult leader Mackenzie, whose church is based in Shakahola village, in Kilifi.
It also comes as Kenya’s policing authorities are under tough criticism for alleged negligence over cult activities that have so far claimed more than 90 lives in Shakahola village.
The self-styled preacher is accused of urging his congregants at Good News International Church to starve themselves to death as a path to God.
Most of those found in mass graves are children, and police fear the death toll could rise as their search continues. At least 22 people have so far been arrested in relation to the case.
