Pastor Ezekiel Odero of the New Life Prayer Centre and Church who was a major suspected mastermind behind the Shakahola cult massacre will today sleep a free man.

The man of God’s case was thrown out of Shanzu law courts in Kilifi with the magistrate ordering the bond of 1.2 million to be returned to Odero.

The prosecution team which was being led by Antony Musyoka stated that Security agencies conducted investigations and found no evidence linking Odero and his church to the controversial self-proclaimed clergyman Paul Mackenzie.

“The office is of the opinion that the file be closed at this stage as the investigations are now complete and recommendations are contained in respective police files which have been forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (D.P.P),” said Musyoka

The court hearing led by Chief Magistrate Joe Omido ruledfor Odero to be discharged and that the cash bail of Sh 1.5 million which the preacher had paid earlier to the court for his temporary released be reimbursed to him before declaring the file in question closed.

“Having considered the application made orally yesterday by the correspondent’s counsel and having further considered the response made by the prosecution counsel who has filed a report via a letter dated October 30, 2023, and further having considered the record in its entirety, I hereby proceed to discharge the respondent Ezakiel Odero. I discharge in respect of the respondent, the orders made on may 2, 2023, and the subsequent one made on may 4, 2023. The cash bail of Ksh 1.5 million that was deposited to be released to the depositor and this file is now closed.” Omido said.

Speaking after his release, the controversial Pastor termed his predicaments as trials from God. He explained that the whole saga was not about him as an individual but a matter concerning the church before quoting the famous hit song ” ameniweka huru kweli”

“I dont think this was about Ezekiel, this was about the church and the future. Tusinge simama imara wale ambao wanatutegemea kwa imani yao kesho wangevunjika moyo. But kama Mungu aliona tunastahili kupitia this test, to prove if at all we are worthy, we say thank you Lord for this test. Ukweli umetuweka huru” the preacher said.