Faithful at the Mwingi town Messiahship Worship Centre had to hold their Sunday service in the open when they found the landlord had locked them out of the church.

The worshipers conducted the service at a makeshift tent structure outside the church. The service was led by the church head, Rev Julius Nyerere.

The faithful entered the church building through a side door next to the pulpit and brought the chairs outside.The worshipers said the landlord Benard Mulatya locked the church claiming he has not been Sh18,000 rent for January, February and March .

He locked up the church last Thursday.The landlord said he had warned the reverend that he would lock the church. "The contract is clearly defined that they must pay by the fifth day of the preceding month. We have however settled the matter to day," he said.