- The pastor said his support system has been crucial during his tribulations.
- Shanzu senior principal magistrate Joe Omido set him free on Tuesday.
Image: JOHN CHESOLI
Pastor Ezekiel Odero has said he is not bitter with the authorities that made his life uncomfortable for six months before he was absolved by the courts on Tuesday.
The head of New Life Prayer Centre and Church said his six-month tribulations have been a great test from God and his absolution is because of truth.
He said he will now preach the Gospel with more vigour and gusto.
“This was my test, God trying to see how strong my faith in Him is. After this the Gospel continues,” he said.
The pastor said his support system has been crucial during his tribulations, intimating that there were very many temptations along the way.
On Monday, when he applied to have the case against him closed for lack of anything tangible after the police failed to apprise the court of their progress in investigations, he was with his wife and son and followers.
Shanzu senior principal magistrate Joe Omido set him free on Tuesday.
Odero said his lawyers Cliff Ombeta, Danstan Omari and Sam Nyaberi walked the long and treacherous journey with him and have become his brothers.
“But one thing I told them, if there is anything that I have done, you come and inspect and bring the media and announce to them anything without informing me. I did that because I knew we did nothing wrong and the church had done nothing wrong,” the pastor said.
He said this was not about him as an individual but about the church and its future.
“If we hadn’t stood firm, those who depend on us because of their faith would have been heartbroken. But if God saw it fit for us to go through this great test to prove that we are worthy, we say thank you Lord for this test,” Odero said.
“I am not bitter with anyone. Because if I were, then it means I had done wrong. But all those involved, the DCI, the police, I thank them for doing what they had to do,” he said.
“Above all, there is God in Heaven. He does not sleep and does not drink tea in anyone’s house. He answers prayers. This is for the church. And after this, the Gospel continues.”
He said nobody had wronged him and that this was his test.
“God was trying to see whether I can stand with the truth and I will not leave Him after all this,” he said.
Lawyer Ombeta said they will not sue for damages or defamation.
“Pastor has given his word. He has said he is not interested in doing that. He has forgiven everyone, like they have forgiven him,” Ombeta said.
Odero said: “I was preaching the Gospel, arrested while preaching the Gospel, the Gospel has defended itself. Unless the Gospel prosecutes, accuses or charges somebody, for me the Gospel continues.”
Odero was under police investigation for about six months on suspicion of, jointly and by conspiracy, committing the felony of murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalisation, genocide, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud and money laundering.
On Tuesday, the DPP ordered the miscellaneous application closed following police recommendations.
“We are in receipt of the police inquiry files. We have noted that the police investigations are complete with their recommendations. In the circumstances, the reasons upon which bond/bail with conditions pending investigations were granted, has now been overtaken by events,” the DPP, through principal prosecution counsel Anthony Musyoka, said.
Omari praised the new DPP Renson Ingonga for having asked for Pastor Ezekiel’s file and reviewed it, saying he has shown the independence of the Judiciary has been restored.
The drama started in March when the Shakahola debacle emerged with Pastor Paul Mackenzie.
“From nowhere, government and other people forgot the name of Mackezie and thought that Pastor Ezekiel Ombok Odero is Mackenzie. He was arrested and arraigned,” Omari said.
He said Pastor Ezekiel is the only person in Kenya who has faced an allegation of genocide.
“Because that is an international crime that can only be tried at the ICC,” Omari said.
Shakahola, which the man of cloth was linked to, is 200km away from his church in Mavueni, Omari said.