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Nairobi - Pastor Ezekiel Odero's lawyer Danstan Omari has accused the government of having an ulterior motive in the deregistration of the Newlife Prayer Centre and Church.
During a press briefing on Friday, August 18, outside Milimani Law Courts, the lawyer claimed the government was out to take the church's property which he claimed to be valued at trillions of shillings.
Omari said to set everything clear; none of the property was registered in the embattled preacher's name.
He explained that they were registered under Newlife Prayer Centre and Church, adding that nationalising it later would be stealing from Kenyans who contributed to the property.
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"Remember the import of deregistering the church it means the properties of the church, which as of now are trillions of money, shall be taken. People have an appetite to take over and nationalise or take the property of the church. This is an attempt to take the property of the citizens.
For record purposes, none of the property of the church is registered in Pastor Ezekiel's name; not even a dog. All the property plus the rats in that church are registered in Newlife Prayer Centre and Church. So it is the property of more than 10 million followers of Ezekiel that the government wants to take. But we're determined," he explained.
The lawyer questioned why the Kenya Kwanza administration was focused on cracking the whip on Christian groups.
Omari pointed out that there are six religious groups in the country, and none apart from Christians had been subjected to scrutiny.
"It is a clear manifestation of the agenda of this government against religion. No other religious facility. No mosque, temple or traditional Kaya shrines have ever been closed. Why the churches? It is a war against Christianity. The war against the word of God has started earnestly," he added.
This year, cultic activities in which people die secretly were discovered by authorities.
To hit the headlines locally and beyond borders was the happenings in Shakahola forest in Kilifi county.
Shallow graves bearing tens of human bodies were discovered, with Pastor Paul Mackenzie, a controversial preacher heading the Good News International church, being pointed to as the mastermind.
Mackenzie was accused of brainwashing his faithful, who he counselled to fast with the object of meeting God. Many died of starvation while heeding his call for the deadly fast.
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Danstan Omari.
Danstan Omari Claims Gov't Wants to Take Church's Property, Says None Is Registered in Ezekiel's
Danstan Omari Claims Gov't Wants to Take Church's Property, Says None Is Registered in Ezekiel's