Kings Outreach Deregistration Not Linked To Shakahola, Prophet Owuor Church Clarifies

• The deregistration of Kings Outreach Church on August 18 triggered a wave of mixed reactions across social media platforms
• According to Senior Archbishop George Kyaka, they voluntarily dissolved to streamline their operations but did not shut down because of cultism
• Registrar of Societies advised the church to ease administrative processes such as filing returns, prompting the resolution

The deregistration of Kings Outreach Church on Friday, August 18, elicited varied reactions on social media.

According to a gazette notice by the Registrar of Societies, the church stood deregistered as of May 19, 2023.

Coming at a time when the government had intensified its crackdown on rogue churches following the Shakahola massacre, some quarters erroneously linked the closure of Kings Outreach Church to cultism.

However, speaking to TUKO.co.ke, the Repentance & Holiness church's Senior Archbishop, Major Gen. George Kyaka (Rtd.), clarified that they willingly dissolved King’s Outreach Church, among others, and chose to retain one body, namely the Ministry of Repentance & Holiness in order to avoid double taxation.

"In that AGM at the end of the year 2022, it was resolved to dissolve and deregister King's Outreach Church. It is based on that AGM Resolution that Kings Outreach Church was deregistered and therefore the deregistration of Kings Outreach Church has nothing to do with Shakahola," said Kyaka.

Why was the church dissolved

According to the Church’s Senior Archbishop, Major Gen. Kyaka, the church was incurring extra costs, and its dissolution would enhance operational efficiency.

"The resolution was due to counsel from the registrar of societies to ease operations like filing of returns and administration. This decision was reached way before Shakahola happened," he added.

TUKO.co.ke has learned that the church was closed following an Annual General Meeting held on December 3, 2022.

"Agenda to Dissolve King's Outreach Church abiding with the provision of its constitution was read before the members. Members present Unanimously approved the process of dissolution to commence," read agenda number three of the meeting.

Pastor Ezekiel Odero's church deregistered

In other developments, the Registrar of Societies in Kenya officially revoked the registration of the Newlife Prayer Centre and Church led by Pastor Ezekiel Odero.

The Kilifi-based Newlife Prayer Centre finds itself among five other churches whose registrations have been cancelled.

Registrar of Societies Maria Nyariki explained the basis for these cancellations, saying,

"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 12 (1) of the Societies Act, the Registrar of Societies cancels the registration of the societies specified in the first column of the Schedule, with effect from the respective dates specified in the third column of the Schedule."