The sick continue to throng pastor Ezekiel's prayer centre in Mavueni

Lying on a stretcher, the man and his family patiently waited for their turn as Ezekiel preached and counselled the congregations in his 45,000-capacity church.

Patients accompanied by relatives waited at various points for Ezekiel's prayers for healing.

There were at least seven people said to be mentally ill who had been accompanied to the church by relatives.

The cases were varied; diabetics, ulcers and HIV.

Usually, the patients are grouped, depending on sickness, and then the pastor prays for each group. The very sick ones on hospital beds are prayed for at the altar.

Pastor Ezekiel spoke of faith and hope and the need to dedicate one's life to Jesus.

There were many women looking for marriage partners.

Mothers prayed and sought stars for their children to perform well in school and desist from drugs.

Others sought stars to help them succeed in their businesses while some prayed to quit alcoholic addiction.

In his sermons, Pastor Ezekiel said that coming to the higher altar to seek a change in life for success comes with a high responsibility that requires patience.

A section of Pastor Ezekiel Odero's Newlife Prayer Centre and Church in Mavueni, Kilifi County. [Joackim Bwana, Standard]

According to Janet Kinyanjui who flew from Australia to attend the holy communion with Sudanese husband and children, they have been blessed with lucrative jobs through praying with pastor Ezekiel.

"We are here for prayers and holy communion. Although there are churches back in Australia, they don't do these miracles. We have got better paying jobs," said Kinyanjui.

Yesterday, Ezekiel's lawyers Cliff Ombeta, Danstan Omari and Sam Nyaberi who were also present at the service said there was no radicalisation in the pastor's preaching as alleged by state.

"Today we are here to witness what goes on daily at his premises. We have participated in the masses and listened to his sermons and we have heard no radicalised preaching. The OCPD and his officers have also been present," said Omari.

Ombeta said the ministry has transparency in the church operations with 3,000 employees going home with money.

"When they talk about regulating churches what standards will they use if not Ezekiel? He has two dams, an international school, an upcoming airstrip, and 26 acres of the church with malls, banks, and restaurants. Giving back to society is what it is. They should come and benchmark here," said Ombeta.

He faulted the Attorney General for accusing Ezekiel's church of failure to file taxes since 2013, a fact that was later confirmed to be wrong by Kenya Revenue Authority.

"The registrar says the church hasn't been filing returns for 12 years yet KRA says he has filed returns. And they are planning to jail him at ICC over genocide and terrorism so they can take his property. Stop linking him to pastor Makenzi," said Ombeta.

Nyaberi said a Nairobi court had issued an order freezing Ezekiel's bank accounts and those of the church and international school, affecting a massive workforce.