Embattled pastor Ezekiel Odero’s New Life Prayer Centre and Church on Sunday held its Sunday service without any interference despite the government's decision to de-register it.

Members of the church based at Mavueni in Kilifi County ignored the government ban and trooped in for the early morning for the service.

The congregants blamed the state for interfering with their right to worship, which they believe has changed the lives of many in Mavueni village. 

Speaking to The Standard, the members insisted Odero had good intentions for the local community and urged the state to leave him alone.

Rehema Mwololo, who claimed to have been healed by Odero, decried the government's decision to ban the church as uncalled for. 

"When pastor Odero came to Mavueni, I had many problems with my family members, but after he prayed for me, life changed. He united me with my family and started this business for me. Even my children changed. We are on talking terms because of the pastor,” said Mwololo.

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Dorcas Kulundu, who is a staunch follower of Pastor Odero, asked the government to allow the church to operate without interruption.

Kulundu confessed that thousands of people who had come to the church had been healed and wondered why the government was fighting pastor Odero. 

“We have decided to continue going on with prayers by the pastor because we want someone who can change the lives of people. He has already changed the lives of many,” said Kulundu.

As the services were proceeding in the church, a mentally disturbed woman who had slipped from the hands of her relatives from Uganda started running around, causing fears that she could easily be knocked down by vehicles. 

However, church members in charge of the sick managed to get hold of her and bundled her into an ambulance and took her to a hospital in Kilifi.

As the members trooped into the church, the plain-clothed police officers, who were monitoring the situation from a distance in their vehicle, later disappeared.

Yesterday, journalists could not be let into the vast church compound and had to stay outside as service proceeded. 

The Registrar of Societies, Maria Nyariki, cancelled the registration of Pastor Ezekiel’s church under unclear circumstances despite existing court orders stopping interference in the church operations.

She called registration of the church alongside five other churches on May 19, 2023, and published it through a gazette notice dated August 3, 2023, and served the notifications last week. By Willis Oketch, The Standard

Sadiq Khan was forced to distance himself from a claim on his website that a picture of a young white family “does not represent real Londoners”.

The Labour London mayor was criticised over the message, which appeared as part of a guide to his and the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) brand.

The guide opened with the words: “A City for All Londoners”, and promised to appeal to all ages, genders, sexual orientations and family make-ups.

But a picture of a couple and their two children walking along the Thames, with parliament in the background, was highlighted as an example of pictures not to use. A label on the picture read: “Doesn’t represent real Londoners”.

Mr Khan said the caption was added by a staff member “in error”, and does not reflect his view or the view of the GLA. 

“The document has now been taken off the GLA website and is being reviewed to ensure the language and guidance is appropriate,” a spokesman for the mayor said.

Mr Khan’s rival in next year’s mayoral race, Tory candidate Suzan Hall, called for the mayor to apologise.

She told the Mail on Sunday, which exposed the guidance: “All Londoners are real Londoners, no matter their ethnicity, and Sadiq Khan needs to apologise and stop these desperate, politically-motivated attempts to divide people.”

The row comes as Mr Khan bids to secure a historic third term as London mayor. He has faced significant criticism in recent months over the expansion of the capital’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez), which critics say will add to the financial pressure facing households.

He has also faced criticism over the decision to charge drivers for using the Blackwall Tunnel.

Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson last week branded Mr Khan “Dick Turpin” and a “modern-day highwayman” over the taxes.

Mr Khan’s spokesman fired back at Mr Anderson’s criticism over the Blackwall tunnel charge – pointing out that it was decided by his predecessor Boris Johnson.

“The introduction of a toll on the Blackwall Tunnel was confirmed by Boris Johnson when he was the mayor in 2012,” they said. The Independent