Pastor Ezekiel Odero’s New Life Prayer Centre in Kilifi faces permanent closure after the Court of Appeal declined to reinstate its operational license. The decision is a significant setback for the popular televangelist, whose church was among several institutions closed last year following the cancellation of their licenses due to improper registration.
Pastor Odero, known for his widespread television presence, initially secured temporary court orders to halt the church’s closure while the case was being reviewed. However, his legal battle took a turn on Tuesday when the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, ruling that the pastor failed to exhaust all administrative remedies before resorting to judicial intervention.
A three-judge bench, comprising Justices Daniel Musinga, Kathurima Minoti, and M. Gachoka, upheld the High Court’s earlier decision, which noted that Odero should have first appealed to the Cabinet Secretary (CS) before approaching the court. The court stated, “In light of the consistent decisions of this Court and the Supreme Court that a party must first invoke the dispute resolution mechanisms provided by the law before resorting to the High Court or courts of equal status, we are satisfied that the intended appeal is not arguable.”
The legal battle stems from Odero’s claims that the High Court’s earlier decision to suspend his church’s license was erroneous. He moved to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the closure infringed on his congregation’s rights to worship and association. However, the appellate court maintained that the pastor did not follow the proper channels laid out by the Fair Administrative Action Act, which require first appealing to the CS.
With the Court of Appeal ruling in place, New Life Prayer Centre now faces imminent closure, marking a significant blow to Pastor Odero’s ministry.
