NAIROBI — On the sprawling 65-acre compound in Mavueni, Kilifi County, worshippers flood a vast amphitheatre built by Pastor Ezekiel Odero’s ministry — a vivid sign of the extraordinary rise of one of Kenya’s most visible preachers. Known for his commanding presence, mass crusades and business-church hybrid operations, Odero is increasingly seen as a leading figure in Kenya’s evangelical scene.
Born on Ngodhe Island in Lake Victoria (Homa Bay County), Ezekiel Odero grew up in a modest household, the son of a fisherman and a small-scale farmer. He first worked as a mason in Mombasa, and later began his ministry journey through involvement in praise and worship before founding his own church.
In 2010, Odero started the New Life Prayer Centre and Church in Shanzu, Mombasa, and within a decade moved the ministry to Mavueni, Kilifi, where the church claims a capacity of up to 40,000-45,000 worshippers. In November 2022 he held a crusade at Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani where estimates put the crowd at tens of thousands — rarely achieved even by major political rallies.
Unlike many traditional churches focusing purely on spiritual services, Odero’s enterprise spans education, energy, real-estate and hospitality. For instance:
A petrol station (New Life Energies) and service centre inside the church compound. An international school and planned university. A multi-level staff accommodation complex and guest resort inside the grounds.
Odero has publicly framed such ventures as offering employment and economic upliftment
The scale of Pastor Odero’s ministry is amplified by media. His YouTube channel reportedly boasts tens of millions of views. An indication of his reach: fake Facebook pages purporting to be him have proliferated, signalling the value attributed to his brand.
In 2023, a poll by TUKO.co.ke named him Kenya’s “best preacher of the year”, based on online voting and social-media influence.
Ezekiel Odero is arguably Kenya’s most talked-about preacher today: charismatic, ambitious, controversial. Whether heralded as a faith pioneer or critiqued as part of the “prosperity gospel” critique, his influence and reach are unmistakable. As Kenya’s religious landscape continues its rapid transformation, ministers like Odero will be key figures shaping the intersection of faith, commerce and modern society.