Senate Forms a Committee on Regulation of Churches in Kenya

The Senate has formed an Ad-hoc committee to propose laws aimed at bringing sanity to religious institutions in the country.

Following a motion tabled by Kakemega Senator Bonny Khalwale on Thursday, the 11-member committee was tasked to investigate circumstances leading to the death of followers of the Good News International Church, which is headed by Pastor Paul Mackenzie.

The Senate wants the team to probe the roles played by Pastor Mackenzie, his pastoral team, and the Kilifi County security apparatus in the Shakahola massacre in which 103 people have been confirmed dead after apparently fasting to death.

Further, the committee is required to establish the number and activities of religious groups in the country and to audit the legal and registration framework for religious organizations.

It was also tasked with developing a legislative proposal on the regulation of religious activities in the country as well as making any other recommendations to prevent religious organizations from extreme indoctrination of their followers, including radicalization, spiritual and financial exploitation.

Khalwale and other senators decried how religious leaders were taking advantage of gullible Kenyans, particularly children.

“It is appalling that in his [Mackenzie] own home, where he lives with his wife and children, a mass grave of children aged between 3 and 12 were buried; how a two-year-old is denied food in the name of fasting beats logic,” said Khalwale.

“The committee owes the 53 million Kenyans that never again will a Christian child, never again will a Muslim child, never again will the child of this country, be denied an opportunity to drink water, to eat food in the name of religion.”

Khalwale noted that religious leaders should not be given licenses to operate TV stations as they are being used to propagate their radicalization.

“It is refreshing that one of the senior Bishops in one of the churches has called for an audit - financial audit of leaders of churches. You can see they are opening the door for us. If you do a financial audit, the one who was arrested today, in the name of Ezekiel Odero, if you go to his compound it is like you are in Los Angeles. This must stop,” he stated.

“Don’t give us a report that will suggest in any way, selective justice. If Yesu of Tongaren is the problem, come for him. If you are coming for Yesu of Tongaren please come for people like the so-called Prophet Owuor.