Anti-terror police seize holy water and handkerchiefs from Pastor Ezekiel church

Anti-terror police (ATPU ) seize items including computers, holy water, and handkerchiefs from Pastor Ezekiel church.

Pastor Ezekiel Odero’s troubles have continued after the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) seized computer drives, communication gadgets, holy water, and handkerchiefs from the New Life Centre and Church.

The action was taken in response to a notice to deregister the church that was issued by the Registrar of Societies, citing an alleged failure to file returns.

On Saturday, Cliff Ometa and Dunstan Omari, Odero’s lawyers, disclosed that the ATPU had seized the items in question on Tuesday under the pretext that they were to be examined in Nairobi.

“The ATPU came to the church on Tuesday and seized the church’s communication items, computer drives, holy water, and handkerchiefs, stating that they were being taken for analysis,” Ombeta said.

Police are investigating Pastor Odero’s links to the controversial Paul Mackenzi’s Shakahola massacre.

They are looking into several charges against him, including murder, aiding suicide, abduction, radicalization, genocide, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud, money laundering, and being an accessory before and after the commission of crimes.

However, Ezekiel Odero has distanced himself from Mackenzi of the Good News International Church, describing their previous relationship as an unsuccessful commercial interaction regarding his interest in buying a television station that never materialized.

His lawyers stated that on Monday, the cleric would be suing the registrar of societies for failing to provide the church’s file.

He added that the State has also been investigating the large expanse of land owned by Odero’s ministry, but the National Lands Commission (NLC) has clarified the land titles.

“The NLC has confirmed that the land titles were properly registered. The question is, why is the Registrar of Societies leading us on a wild goose chase and hiding the church’s file?” Ombeta questioned.

He further revealed that the church’s file had gone missing from the Registrar of Societies’ office, and their attempts to locate and access the file for filing returns had been unsuccessful.

Ombeta mentioned that despite the notice to deregister the church being issued 21 days ago, it had not been officially served upon the church, and they only learned about it through the press.

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“We will sue the Registrar of Societies for abuse of office and the attempt to deregister the church. We have been camping at the Registrar of Societies’ offices in an attempt to access the church’s file, but we have been informed that it is missing,” Ombeta stated.

Omari added that the Registrar of Societies’ claim of the church failing to file returns since 2012 was unsubstantiated.

He mentioned that the lawyers had been writing and staying at the Registrar of Societies’ office since Thursday, trying to obtain the church’s file to file the returns.

“Ever since he attracted over 10 million followers and filled the entire stadium in Nairobi, jealousy has led to persecution,” Omari explained.

“As a result, his church, accounts, and Television Station were temporarily closed but later reopened through a court order.”

Omari emphasized that if the church were to be closed, the government would confiscate its assets. However, he clarified that Pastor Odero does not own a single bank account. “Those attempting to seize the assets are pursuing a futile endeavor because they belong to over 10 million Christians, not Pastor Ezekiel,” Omari asserted.

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