The Kilifi -based Preacher Ezekiel Odero yesterday got a major reprieve after the High Court suspended a decision by the Registrar of Societies to deregister his Church.
The court allowed the New Life Prayer Centre Church which has over 5000 followers to continue to operate.
In a brief ruling, Justice Jairus Ngaah said that the lawsuit filed by Odero and two members of the church Franklin Kilonzo and Alice Nafula Wanyama raises substantial issues of law which need to be canvassed at a full trial.
Suspended decision
The judge therefore temporarily suspended the decision by the government to deregister the church without giving them an opportunity to be heard.
The church was deregistered on May 19, 2023, but the official gazette notice was published on August 18, 2023.
“Pending the interrogation by the court on the question whether the process leading to deregistration of New Life Prayer Centre and the church was consistent with the law of the land and in particular whether it was legal, rational and procedural fair to the New Life Prayer Centre and Church the gazette notice of 18 August 2023 remain suspended pending further directions of the court, “ Justice Ngaah ruled. BY PEOPLE’S DAILY
