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Traders in Mavueni fear loss of livelihood after Ezekiel's church shut

New Life Church and Prayer Centre is among five others that were deregistered by the Registrar of Societies

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by CHARLES MGHENYI

Counties20 August 2023 - 20:00
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In Summary


  • One of the pastors at the church, Josephine Kulundu, said all the deregistered churches should be allowed to operate.
  • She said she has faith in President William Ruto, who she described as church-going, saying he can resolve the issues if he so wishes.
Pastor Ezekiel Odero's New Life Church / HANDOUT

Residents at Mavueni, where embattled Pastor Ezekiel Odero's New Life Church and Prayer Centre is located, have called on the government to reconsider their decision to deregister it.

The church is among five churches that were deregistered by the Registrar of Societies.

On Sunday, hundreds of worshippers were seen trooping into the church premises for the Sunday services.

Service at the church went on interrupted.

One of the pastors at the church, Josephine Kulundu, said all the deregistered churches should be allowed to operate.

"If there is anything wrong with any church, there should be ways to resolve the matter other than deregistration," she said.

"I cry for this worshipper who went to church today and was told they could not worship in the church," she said.

She said she has faith in President William Ruto, who she described as church-going, saying he can resolve the issues if he so wishes.

Kulundu said there are people under the pastors who preach at the church, some of who earn a living working in the church.

She pleaded with Ruto to help resolve the matter.

"Let us not have another five years of push and pull. Where will these pastors go?" posed Kulundu.

She said churches are there to see society change from bad to good.

"If we stop worshipping God, there will be problems in this nation," Kulundu said.

Rehema Mwololo, who owns an eatery outside the church, said she fears she will lose clients should the church not be allowed to operate anymore.

She pays Sh2,000 per month for the eatery.

"I set up this hotel after I was prayed for at this church and my problems came to an end,” Mwololo said.

She revealed she started worshipping at Pastor Ezekiel's church back when it was headquartered in Majaoni, Kisauni subcounty in Mombasa county.

"I moved here when this place was still a forest and helped clear the forest. This church has opened up this place and people have found jobs to do and money to make," she said.

A driver at Overseas bus company, Daniel Omae alias Mandevu, said the church has helped him reform his life.

"I was a drunkard and chewed miraa all the time. But I was convinced to stop the abuse. I was told not to be bringing people to church yet I don't go to church. That is how I started going to church," Madevu said.

He said the government should be open and tell Kenyans what the problem is.

He said drivers have benefitted from the church, transporting people from various places to the premises in Mavueni.

Ann Nkatha, from Maua, said she also started worshipping at Majaoni in September 2021.

She had ulcers which are now gone after prayers from Pastor Ezekiel.

She established an eatery and guest houses outside the church premises.

"Where will we go if this church is closed? This church has opened up this place. If Ruto truly knows God, let this church not be closed," Nkatha said.

 

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