Pastor Ezekiel Under Fire for Claiming He Was to Board Ill-fated Diani Flight

Apostle Ezekiel Odero, founder of the New Life Prayer Centre Church in Kilifi County, is facing public criticism following his remarks about the aircraft crash that killed 11 tourists in Diani, Kwale County, on 28 October.

During a church service held two days after the crash, Odero told his congregation that he and his wife avoided the doomed flight after he received what he described as a divine warning. He claimed to have cancelled flight bookings from Mombasa to Nairobi and instead travelled by train, saying, “I knew I was going to die.”

His account has since faced widespread doubt, with many questioning both the accuracy and timing of his statements. Aviation reports indicate that the crashed aircraft was flying from Diani to the Maasai Mara, not along the Mombasa–Nairobi route that Odero mentioned. 

The inconsistency has led to allegations that the preacher may have used the tragedy to attract public attention. Critics have also challenged the moral and theological aspects of his claims. 

Some argue that if Odero truly received a divine warning, he should have acted to prevent the disaster or alerted authorities. Others have questioned whether such statements show responsibility toward the victims and the grieving families.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the aircraft, which was heading to Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara, went down at around 8:30 am in the Vyungwani area of Matuga. The crash occurred shortly after departure, in hilly terrain covered by fog. 

Heavy rainfall had been reported overnight and into the morning, raising concerns about poor visibility. Local residents said they heard a loud explosion before finding the wreckage engulfed in flames.