
CURBING MEN OF CLOTH: Shakahola Taskforce Proposes New Bill Restraining Pastors From Extortion
If the recommendations of President William Ruto’s task force are implemented, any religious leader who falsely performs miracles, healings, or blessings in order to extort unsuspecting Kenyans will be charged with an offense.
The presidential taskforce on the Review of the Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing Religious Organizations in Kenya made recommendations to clarify how religious institutions would be governed.
These proposals were included in the Religious Organizations Bill of 2024.
Shakahola Taskforce completes its work, President Ruto promises to protect freedom of religion in Kenya. #TV47News @HibaqSaid pic.twitter.com/qoLMs9L9H8
— TV47 (@tv47news) July 30, 2024
One of the recommended strategies is to track down religious leaders who ask their congregations to give money in order to earn ‘financial favour from God’.
Those found guilty will have to pay Ksh.5 million or serve a ten-year imprisonment or both.
“A religious leader who by means of any false and fraudulent representations, tricks or schemes as to healing, miracles, blessings or prayers, extorts or fraudulently obtains any financial gain or material benefit from any person or induces the person to deliver money or property to the religious leader commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh.5 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both,” reads part of the bill.
Furthermore, any religious leader who uses force, threats, or intimidation to persuade another person to join their religion will face a fine of no more than Ksh.1 million, a three-year jail sentence, or both.
Parents will, however, be legally permitted to choose the religious upbringing of their children.
On the other hand, anyone who uses religion to disparage another person’s religious beliefs and endangers their safety will face a Ksh.5 million fine, 20 years in prison or both.
The taskforce also recommended that churches refrain from engaging in politics in order to gain power or organizing a debate to support a political candidate.
If found guilty, the institution will face a fine of no more than Ksh.500,000, six months in prison, or both.
The taskforce was formed in May 2023 to identify and close gaps in society that may have allowed the spread of religious cults.
President William Ruto appoints a Commission of Inquiry on the Shakahola Tragedy. The Head of State has also appointed a Taskforce to review the legal and regulatory framework governing religious organizations. pic.twitter.com/GDt6096ML3
— Hussein Mohamed, MBS. (@HusseinMohamedg) May 5, 2023
It was led by Dr Mutava Musyimi, former Secretary-General of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK).
This was in response to the Shakahola tragedy, which saw over 400 bodies exhumed from the forest and linked to pastor Paul Mackenzie.
CURBING MEN OF CLOTH: Shakahola Taskforce Proposes New Bill Restraining Pastors From Extortion