Televangelist Ezekiel Odero has petitioned the court for conservatory orders to reopen the New Life Prayer Centre and Church, as well as his TV station World Evangelism TV, pending the outcome of the petition.
According to court documents, the preacher who is being investigated for the Shakahola Massacre claims that the decision to close down his TV station and church was made illegally and in violation of Article 47 of the Constitution as read in conjunction with Section 4 of the Fair Administrative Actions Act 2015.
In the petition, which names the Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, and five others as respondents, Ezekiel claims that his church and TV station were shut down before he was charged in court.
According to the preacher, the decisions to close the church and the TV station were based on emotion rather than facts.
“The above twin pronouncements by the state were made without any notice and factual basis and reactionary whose impact has resulted to halting access to worship by members and congregants of New Life Prayer center who continue to act on the public pronouncement to avoid and refrain from the church premises for daily prayers and spiritual nourishment,” Pastor Ezekiel says in the petition.
He claims that the Shakahola forest where at least 109 cult members’ bodies have been exhumed so far, is about 200 kilometres away from his Mavueni church.
He also claims that the allegations levelled against him lack any factual justification because the conclusions are based on future events and investigations that have yet to be initiated or conducted.
In the court papers, the Televangelist said to own the expansive 300-acre New Life Prayer Center and Church, said shortly after his arrest, he received a letter from, Ezra Chiloba the Director General & CEO of the Communication Authority of Kenya, communicating the authorities’ decision to temporarily suspend the operations/frequency of the World Evangelism TV.
On Sunday, May 7, the preacher was back at the pulpit, just days after he was freed from police custody.
His lawyers Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta urged police officers who had barricaded the roads leading to the church to allow worshippers access the church.
According to Omari, despite a verbal order to close down the church, no written order had been served to the preacher.
