Communications Authority Suspends Pastor Ezekiel, Paul Mackenzie TV Stations

Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Ezra Chiloba, has suspended World Evangelism TV and Times TV stations from broadcasting in Kenya with immediate effect starting on Friday, April 28.

Chiloba stated in a notice that the TV stations had disregarded the requirements and restrictions placed on them before receiving their licenses for broadcasting.

According to Chiloba, Evangelism TV was registered under the name New Life Communications Limited and was affiliated with Pastor Ezekiel Odera.

The CA Director General, on the other hand, said that Times TV, which is registered under Good News Media Kenya Limited, is connected to Pastor Paul Mackenzie.

“Following an extensive review of content aired by the two stations between January – April, 2023, the Authority established that the TV stations violated broadcasting standards requirements and license conditions,” the notice read in part.

According to Chiloba, Pastor Ezekiel-owned TV station violated broadcasting standards by airing content on exorcism.

“Similarly, Times TV aired inappropriate content on exorcism and flouted 17 other broadcasting license conditions,” Chiloba disclosed.

Further, Chiloba directed the broadcast signal distributor, Pan African Network Group (PANG) Limited, to cease carrying the two stations on its platform until further notice.

“The two televangelists are under investigation for the Shakahola tragedy in Kilifi County,” he added.

The two preachers were apprehended and linked to the murder of several people whose bodies were found buried in Shakahola, Kilifi County.

Ezekiel was arrested on Thursday, April 27, and his church shut down with immediate effect. Following his arrest, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure announced that the preacher would face charges related to the mass killing of his followers.

The CS further evacuated over 100 followers found at his church in Mavueni, Kilifi County.

Mackenzie was arrested on Saturday, April 15, after bodies believed to be his followers were exhumed from shallow graves in Shakahola. The number rose to over 90.

Preliminary reports indicated that he had advised his followers to fast till death. Following the revelation, President William Ruto equated Pastor Mackenzie’s actions to terrorism.

Responding to the arrests of the two televangelists, Kindiki vowed to clamp down on religious radicalisation in the country. The Interior CS further transferred local law enforcement officers.

“The government has decided that effective today, we will transfer all station, division, sub-county, county heads and commanders of all agencies within Kilifi County effective today.

“We will replace them with their colleagues from elsewhere so that we can show the public that what we are doing is for the good of the country and for the good of justice,” Kindiki announced.