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Nairobi, 21/08/2023
Pastor Ezekiel Odero of the New Life Prayer Centre &
Church is fighting to overturn the deregistration of his church, alleging that
he and his congregation were not given the opportunity to defend themselves
before the Registrar of Societies took action. In a bid to protect his
congregants' freedom of worship, Pastor Odero has filed legal documents with
the Milimani Law Courts seeking to reverse the decision.
The Pastor asserts that he was caught off guard by the
Registrar's decision to cancel the church's registration and claims that he was
denied any opportunity to present a defense to prevent the deregistration. In
the court documents, he expresses disappointment at what he sees as continuous
attempts by state organs to persecute him and suppress his ministry.
Lawyer Danstan Omari is representing Pastor Ezekiel Odero in
his efforts to suspend the Registrar's directive that led to the church's
deregistration. The directive, as announced in a gazette notice published on
August 18, 2023, cancelled the registration of New Life Prayer Centre.
The legal documents highlight that the cancellation, dated
May 19, 2023, contradicts the fact that Pastor Odero was served with a letter
on May 25, 2023, dated April 27, 2023. This letter required him to provide
reasons within 21 days as to why the church's registration should not be
cancelled due to its failure to file annual returns.
Pastor Odero contends that this timeline "is an obvious
scheme to frustrate the operations of the church." He notes that the
notice to show cause was presented eight days after the intended 21-day notice
period had ended.
Moreover, Pastor Odero's efforts to comply with the
Societies Act by filing the church's annual returns were met with challenges.
Despite requesting the Registrar to provide the church's file for filing
purposes, the Registrar allegedly refused to make the file available. The
Pastor alleges that this refusal was intentional and aimed at hindering his
compliance with the law.
Furthermore, Pastor Odero points out that the Mombasa High
Court, under the guidance of Lady Justice Olga Sewe, issued an order on May 10,
2023, instructing the Registrar and the state to refrain from interfering with
the religious activities of the Church. Despite this court order, Pastor Odero
claims that the Registrar's actions have been contradictory, suggesting
ulterior motives.
Pastor Ezekiel Odero's case sheds light on the challenges
faced by churches with unconventional doctrines in Kenya. Some of these
churches have encountered increased scrutiny from security agencies and
regulatory bodies. As the legal battle unfolds, questions arise about the
balance between safeguarding religious freedom and ensuring public order and
adherence to regulations
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What do you think about this?