Embattled pastor Ezekiel Odero of New Life Centre and Church yesterday made a triumphant entry into the Mavueni facility amid jubilation from his followers.
He presided over his first Sunday service since his release, after spending more than a week in police custody after being linked to Shakahola deaths. He denied the allegations in court.
Pastor Odero was released by a Shanzu court on a Sh1.5 million cash bail on Thursday last week.
The church headquarters was closed by police when Odero was arrested and those inside the complex cleared.
Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha announced the pastor's arrest and closure of the church.
Lawyers Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta accompanied pastor Odero to church yesterday morning.
Thousands of worshippers broke into celebrations when police finally allowed the church service to proceed. Heavily armed officers had barricaded the premises in a bid to stop the service.
The faithful, some of who had arrived as early as 4am, waited patiently outside for their leader to emerge from his palatial residence inside the more than 300-acre compound.
Police said they had orders to close the church and bar worshippers from accessing it but failed to produce any court order when challenged by lawyers Omari and Ombeta.
The two lawyers said the move by the security officers was tantamount to persecution of the church and vowed to challenge it in court.
"The procedure to communicate closure is by a legal document with a stamp and the coat of arms of the Republic of Kenya. They don't have," said Omari.
He said under Article 32 of the Constitution, the government cannot stop any religious function.
The two lawyers threatened to hold the police officers individually liable for any losses incurred due to the closure of the church.
Omari claimed the closure of the church interfered with ongoing projects and crippled business at the church's shopping mall.
They said in the church compound, there are many other activities and business premises including a restaurant, a shopping mall, several construction sites that have nothing to do with the church.
"More than 3,500 workers have been denied entry. We may have to hold the police individually liable for the losses incurred," said Omari.
"The tithe that will not be collected today and the souls that will not be healed, and those who will die because pastor cannot pray for them, we will hold the government to account."
Ombeta claimed the freedom of worship and assembly was guaranteed by the Constitution and should not be denied without compelling reasons.
"No closure of any premises is done by word of mouth. Because if the mouth was the lock we would have locked a lot of things," said Ombeta.
However, after the faithful entered the church, the officer-in-charge of the police at the premises was seen consulting with his colleagues. They then made frantic calls and the new Kilifi County Police Commander Fatuma Hadi arrived and consulted with Odero's lawyers.
Omari and Ombeta said the church has a capacity of 45,000 people but due to the tribulations of the televangelist, they expected more than double the capacity.
