New Life International Church Pastor Ezekiel on Monday, May 8, turned tables on the State over the closure of his Church and television station.
In an eighty-six-page partition filed before the Mombasa High Court seeking orders to fully open the Church and declare government actions as an infringement on the rights of faithful.
Through his lawyers, Cliff Ombeta, Danstan Omari and Jared Magolo, the televangelist accused Communication Authority of Kenya Director-General Ezra Chiloba of taking part in illegality by closing his TV station.
"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 noted in the petition.
Pastor Ezekiel Odero's (insert) Mavueni Complex which was on Saturday, April 28, 2023 searched by investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
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New Life International
Pastor Ezekiel termed the actions of the National Government as unconstitutional schemes aimed at bringing the him down through ulterior motives.
"There is no way a government or its official can blatantly decide to close a TV Station and a Church without coming before a court and getting relevant orders," Lawyer Cliff Ombeta stated.
Ombata asked the court to grant them conservatory orders that would stop the police from interfering with church services at New Life Prayer Centre and Church in Mavueni.
The team of Lawyers pleaded for the conservatory orders pending the outcome of the petition that they filed against Atony General Justin Muturi, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, Office of Public Prosecution among others.
On Thursday, April 27, Chiloba announced that CA had made a decision to temporarily suspend the operations/frequency of World Evangelism TV.
Kindiki claimed that evidence showed that Pastor Ezekiel was somewhat linked to Paul Mackenzie who was charged with terrorism after more than 110 of his followers were found buried in Shakahola Forest.
Lawyer Danstan Omari stated that the State had failed to write a formal letter to Pastor Ezekiel over the said closure of the Church.
On Sunday, May 7, a contingent of police officers attempted to block worshippers from accessing the road leading to the Mavueni complex.
Pastor Ezekiel's Lawyers immediately intervened and urged police officers who had barricaded the roads to allow worshippers access the Church.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga touring Pastor Ezekiel Odero's home in Kilifi County alongside the televangelist, lawyer Cliff Ombeta and other Azimio politicians on May 6, 2023.
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Cliff Ombeta
