Kenya court frees pastor accused of links to cult leader

FILE PHOTO: Detectives escort Ezekiel Ombok Odero, the Head of New Life Prayer Centre/Church in Kilifi County, at the police headquarters for investigations into the Shakahola killings linked to pastor Paul Mackenzie, in Mombasa, Kenya April 27, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - A Kenyan court on Thursday released on bond a televangelist detained last week as part of an investigation into the deaths of dozens of people whom police say starved themselves to death on the instructions of a cult leader.

Kenya's interior minister accused Pastor Ezekiel Odero after his arrest last Thursday of involvement in the "mass killing of his followers", without elaborating.