Court declines to lift order deregistering Pastor Ezekiel Odero's church

New Life Prayer Centre founder pastor Ezekiel Odero had moved to court seeking to overturn the decision to deregister his church.

In papers filed in court, Odero through his lawyer says the move by the Registrar of Societies restricts his congregation's right to practice their religion. 

According to the controversial pastor, the move to deregister his ministry is a scheme to frustrate and obstruct the operations of the Church he leads.

In an application filed at Milimani Law Courts , Odero says he learnt of the deregistration by the registrar’s office through the media, 8 days after the lapse of the 21-day notice.

 The affidavit in part read: "The calculated scheme by the 1st respondent of cancelling the registration of the Church on May 19th 2023 and published on 18th August 2023, yet the applicant only became aware of the notice to show cause on the 25th of May 2023, is in a bid to frustrate the applicant’s right to fair administrative action in light of his upcoming “Meza ya Bwana” International Conference, scheduled to take place over 14 days."

Odero maintains that if the court does not intervene, he shall suffer irreparable harm and his congregants’ freedom of religion as envisioned by the Constitution shall be curtailed in contravention of Article 32 of the Constitution.

Through lawyer Danstan Omari, Odero accused the Registrar of Society for failing to give him the church’s file so as to file the annual returns.

 The affidavit continued: "It is increasingly disheartening of the numerous attempts by state organs to persecute the applicant, frustrate his ministry and eventually not only shut down the New Life Prayer Centre and Church but also all other projects by the applicant."

Helicopter of Christ Church of Bishop Thomas Wahome, which is among the churches that were deregistered, has also petitioned the Registrar of Societies.

In the petition, the church says it is a home for the elderly where retired persons who need help are housed, fed and clothed.

It added, the church, also engaged in rehabiltation programs for drug addicts as well as former criminals.

While deregistering the churches, the Registrar said that she exercised her powers under Section 12 (1) of the Societies Act, which allows her to do so on the reasonable cause to believe that the registration of a society should be cancelled.

Among the reasons highlighted under Section 12 (1) of the Societies Act is when the society is likely to pursue, or to be used for, any unlawful purpose or any purpose prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare or good order in Kenya or the interests of peace, welfare, or good order in Kenya would be prejudiced by the continued registration of the society.

Early this year, the Communications Authority (CA) suspended television stations owned by Pastor Ezekiel and Mackenzie for

airing exorcism content.