Pastor Ezekiel Odero held a church service on Sunday, May 7, contrary to the orders from Coast Regional Coordinator Rhoda Onyancha who had directed the closure of the New Life Prayer Centre and Church, Kilifi County.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Odero's lawyer, Danstan Omari confirmed that the pastor's supporters had pitched camp outside the church from 5:00 am.
At the time, police officers had blocked the entrance to the premises - which led to a commotion. This, however, took Omari and Cliff Ombeta's intervention for peace to be restored.
"The police had blocked the supporters from accessing the church. We informed the officers that they needed to produce a written and stamped document stating the orders of the closure. Since they did not have it, they left the premises and the service is continuing as we speak," Omari stated.
The lawyer noted that the order issued by Onyancha was only verbally communicated and was not corroborated with a court order.
At the time of publishing this article, the service was ongoing with Pastor Odero preaching about Abrahamic Star and Cross Border Anointing.
On Thursday, May 4, presiding Judge Olga Sewe certified Odero's application for the church to be reopened and his broadcast to be restored as urgent.
The judge ordered Odero to serve the State with his documents and affirmed the matter would be heard on Monday, May 8.
In addition, Odero's application sought to bar the State from freezing the church's eight bank accounts. The pastor sought the court to issue a conservatory order refraining the government from interfering with his church operations.
Communications Authority Director General Ezra Chiloba on Friday, April 28, suspended two stations; World Evangelism TV and Times TV, associated with televangelists Odero and Pastor Paul Mackenzie respectively.
"Following an extensive review of content aired by the two stations between January - April 2023, the Authority established that the TV stations violated broadcasting standards requirements and license conditions," the notice read in part.
The pastor was apprehended by police on allegations of false doctrines as well as dead bodies found in his mansion.
