Repentance Holiness Church has come out to dismiss claims that the deregistration of its former branch- King's Outreach, was over links to the Shakahola massacre in Kilifi County.

Senior Archbishop Major Gen. (Rtd) George Kyaka on Saturday said that the closure of the Church was not a result of any illegality but a subject of internal resolution by the leadership.

He said that an Annual General Meeting held on December 3, 2022, had already resolved to dissolve the Church and in its place focus on Repentance Holiness Church in a bid to cut on financial costs.

"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," Senior Archbishop Major Gen. (Rtd) George Kyaka

Kyaka went on to note that the decision had already been finalized prior to the revelations at Shakahola early this year.

"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.

A local daily on Friday had reported that the Church, allegedly linked to Prophet Dr David Owuor was facing closure, with speculations arising purporting the Church is associated with Shakahola happenings.

The Church now wants the said media outlet to offer an apology within 24 hours failure to which they threatened to seek legal address.

"The article says Owour is associated with the church. But the said ministry was dissolved in December 2022. By the time of Shakahola, Kings' Outreach was already dissolved. Our client, Prophet Owour has no link with the happenings of Shakahola," the lawyers of Dr Owuor said.

“We call upon the newspaper to withdraw the false publication within 24 hours and we demand an apology with the same magnitude within the next 24hrs. Failure of which we will take the next legal step."

The remarks by King’s Church follow the government directive through a Gazette Notice that ordered the deregistration of four Churches in Kenya.

Among those facing deregistration include Pastor Ezekiel Odero’s Newlife Prayer Centre and Church, Pastor Mackenzie’s Good News International Ministries, Helicopter of Christ Church and the Royal Park Home Owners Estate Association in Langata.