Kenya’s Pentecostal Churches Up-In-Arms Against Religious Organizations Regulation Bill
The Association of Pentecostal Churches and Training Institutes has unanimously rejected the Senate Bill on Religious Organizations, which was drafted in response to recommendations from a Presidential Task Force.
The Secretary-General, Bishop Ezekiel Mwendo, stated that the Bill should undergo proper deliberation and public participation before being tabled in Parliament.
Bishop Mwendo was speaking in Nakuru at the launch of the Association of Pentecostal Vocational Training Institutions of Kenya (APVOTIK).
He also stated that it would not pass if the churches were not considered.
The association, which represents over 200 churches across the country, stated that members should be given opportunities in government leadership, as a country cannot progress without moral guidance.
Bishop Dr. Caleb Oruko, the association’s Vice Chairperson, added that the Senate Bill did not receive full public input and is punitive.
He stated that it contains numerous academic recommendations that may put many religious organisations at risk of closure, which is not their wish.
The Religious Organisations Bill of 2024 proposes a framework for how religious institutions operate in the country.
Kenya's Members of Parliament have backed new tax regulations targeting churches, NGOs, and other tax-exempt institutions. The National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation, led by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga, approved the 2024 Income Tax Regulations Bill (Charitable… pic.twitter.com/yu2IAyBI59
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This includes strict registration requirements and penalties for unregistered institutions.
Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana sponsored the Bill, which has already passed the First Reading.
According to the Bill, religious leaders who use manipulative schemes to perform miracles for financial gain face a Ksh.5 million fine or a 10-year prison sentence.
The Bill also requires that an institution be registered if at least 25 people profess the same faith and are endorsed by an umbrella religious body.
Kenya’s Pentecostal Churches Up-In-Arms Against Religious Organizations Regulation Bill
