Pastor Ezekiel recounts how Mackenzie duped him in a multi-million deal
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Pastor Ezekiel recounts how cult leader Paul Mackenzie duped him in a flopped multi-million deal
Pastor Ezekiel recounts how cult leader Paul Mackenzie duped him in a flopped multi-million deal.
On May 11, the pastor of New Life International Church, Ezekiel Odero, alleged that Pastor Paul Mackenzie had taken unfair advantage of him in a lucrative TV agreement.
Pastor Ezekiel claimed in court, through his lawyer Cliff Ombeta, that he had fallen victim to Mackenzie’s business ploys while attempting to buy a TV station from the preacher, for which he paid him Ksh500,000.
In his argument, Ombeta claimed that Mackenzie had duped Pastor Ezekiel into agreeing to a contract in which the leader of the New Life International Church would pay Ksh3 million to purchase a television station.
“This is a matter that began with a mere commercial transaction since Pastor Ezekiel was looking for a TV Station. On the other hand, Mackenzie was selling one.
“Pastor Ezekiel then went to Mackenzie and after discussions, he agreed to deposit Ksh500,000. However, Mackenzie later complicated the situation and asked for more than Ksh3 million which was initially agreed upon,” Ombeta explained.
The lawyer argued that after Odero paid the initial Ksh500,000, Mackenzie attempted to change the terms of the sale that saw the value of the deal balloon to Ksh5 million.
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“Mackenzie then increased the cost of the transaction from Ksh3 million to Ksh5 million. In response, Pastor Ezekiel declined to continue with the transaction and told Mackenzie that he was no longer interested since he was going to get his own,” Ombeta stated.
Ombeta also put the State on the defense by asking the court to ensure that the Directorate of Public Prosecution (ODPP) is held to account for all the claims it made against the Mavueni-based Preacher.
On Friday, April 28, the Prosecution told the Shanzu Court that Pastor Ezekiel and Mackenzie were businessmen who had previously conducted deals before.
The prosecution explained that the two shared a history of business investment, particularly the TV station, which it claimed was used to radicalize followers.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer George Muriuki stated in his affidavit that there was suspicion that some of the victims whose bodies were exhumed from the Shakahola land had visited Pastor Ezekiel’s church for spiritual intervention.
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