The government has cancelled the registration of New Life Prayer Centre which is owned by popular Televangelist Pastor Ezekiel Odero.
In a gazette notice on Friday, August 18, 2023, the Registrar of Societies Maria Nyariki also announced the deregistration of Good News International Ministries which is associated with Pastor Paul Mackenzie.
Other Churches deregistered are Helicopter of Christ Church, Theophilus church, and Kings Outreach Church.
According to the Registrar of Societies, the State annulled the registration of the churches effective May 19, 2023.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 12 (1) of the Societies Act, the Registrar of Societies cancels the registration of the societies specified in the first column of the Schedule, with effect from the respective dates specified in the third column of the Schedule,” the gazette notice read.
However, Nyakiri did not divulge reasons why the society took action against the five religious organizations.
Moreover, the government also axed Royal Park Homeowners Estate Association in Lang’ata.
This came after months of investigations into the Shakahola massacre in Kilifi County where police exhumed hundreds of bodies in what turned out to be cultic deaths.
Following the revelations, police arrested and detained Pastor Ezekiel and Mackenzie over religious indoctrination and radicalization.
The state alleged that Pastor Ezekiel was an associate of Good News International Church pastor Paul Mackenzie who is still behind bars.
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Consequently, the Court released Pastor Ezekiel on cash bail after spending days in police custody as detectives conducted investigations.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the New life Pastor is on trial for 14 offences, that include crimes against humanity, murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalization, genocide, child cruelty and money laundering.
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On August 10, the Court allowed the police to detain Pastor Mackenzie for 47 more days, after he petitioned the court to free him.
