Residents of Ngodhe Island in Homa Bay County are standing in solidarity with Pastor Ezekiel Ombok Odero of New Life Prayer Centre, who is currently in police custody, facing allegations of mass killing at his church. They have come out in defense of their local hero, describing him as a generous and kind-hearted man who has positively impacted their community.
According to the residents, Ezekiel sponsored all school-going children on the tiny island, which has an average population of 449 persons, in the past year. They recall that he was deeply rooted in the Christian faith and actively participated in the Ngodhe Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church, where he was once an ardent pathfinder and later a choir leader. The occupants of the island also reminisce that he had plans to set up an inclusive church that would not discriminate against any denomination under the Christian religion.
Ezekiel attended Miwani secondary school in Kisumu before proceeding to the Mombasa Polytechnic. However, due to a lack of school fees, he deferred his studies and went off the radar for a short while before founding the New Life Prayer Centre in Mavueni, Malindi. It is, however, unclear if he underwent any training in theology.
The residents of Ngodhe Island have called on the government to expedite investigations on the allegations facing Ezekiel and expressed confidence that he will be vindicated. They hold firm to their belief that he is innocent until proven guilty.
Pastor Ezekiel's parents have since traveled to Malindi, where he is being held in police custody. He was arrested on April 27 and presented in court on April 28 under a miscellaneous application seeking to detain him for 30 days. He is under investigation for several offenses, including fraud, money laundering, murder, and child cruelty.
The defense of Pastor Ezekiel by the residents of Ngodhe Island highlights the complexities that arise when an individual with a well-established reputation faces serious criminal allegations. It also underscores the importance of thorough and unbiased investigations to establish the truth, ensuring that justice is served.