Govt Revokes Registration Of Pastor Ezekiel's Church & 5 Others

The Registrar of Societies on Friday, August 18 cancelled the registration of New Life International Church owned by Pastor Ezekiel Odero.

The Kilifi-based centre was among five other churches whose registrations were revoked in an effort to crack down on religious institutions. Pastor Ezekiel has been in the headlines for links to money laundering and cults.

Other churches deregistered include Helicopter of Christ Church, Theophilus Church, Kings Outreach Church and Goodnews International Ministries.

Helicopter of Christ Church is run by Thomas Wahome who was recently accused of grabbing Nairobi Dam Land.

Pastor Ezekiel Odero's Mavueni Complex which was on Saturday, April 28, 2023, searched by investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Kings Outreach Church had split from the umbrella of churches which were associated with Prophet David Owuor.

Goodnews International Ministries is owned by controversial Shakahola cult leader Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who has been dominating national and international headlines after over 450 bodies were exhumed from Shakahola Forest.

Theophilus Church has facilities in Githurai and Njatha-Ini run by Bishop John Githiri and Rev Rachael wa Kuria.

"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," Registrar of Societies Maria Nyariki stated.

The move comes as Kenyans have been complaining regarding the proliferation of rogue churches that bank on the poor congregants to make billions of shillings.

Pastor Ezekiel's church has been particularly in focus regarding the filing of tax returns, and despite the televangelist's defence on the matter, it did attract the attention of former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

Speaking to YouTuber Esther Nyonje on the Kenya Explained show on Thursday, June 1, Mutunga claimed that churches in Kenya were not known for remitting taxes and that they should file taxes just like any other organisation.