“You’re Vilifying The Church!” – Clergy To Ruto Over Religious Amendment Bill
Clergy from the Pentecostal Voices of Kenya have criticized President William Ruto’s planned Religious Organization Amendment Bill 2024.
They argued that the government intends to exploit the Bill to limit the church.
During a television interview on December 13, clergy members asked that the Bill that is now being prepared be completely repealed.
The Pentecostal Voices of Kenya (PVK) claims that the Bill is an attempt to silence the church and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
“They have opted to vilify the church and arbitrarily enact draconian bills and regulations that trample on the freedom of worship and muzzle the church,” PVK Secretary General Habil Olembo claimed.
Religious amendment bill uproar:
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) December 13, 2025
Pentecostal Voice of Kenya calls for rejection of the bill
Olembo: We demand termination of the amendment bill 2024
Olembo: Govt is making laws that silence churches and NGO#CitizenWeekend pic.twitter.com/TclADNuUZ4
Pentecostal Voices of Kenya Chairperson Peter Manyuru alleged that the government is devoting a lot of attention to suppressing the church, encouraging Ruto to instead focus his efforts on resolving Kenyans’ concerns.
“If you can use the same force and energy that you are using to curtail the church in solving the problems of Kenyans, I want to say that Kenya would be very far,” Peter Manyuru said.
The clergy now contend that the Bill threatens their fundamental right to worship and creates a broad set of crimes designed to harass religious leaders.
They further argue that the church did not participate in the preparation of the religion Bill changes as stakeholders.
The church is now urging the government to stop silencing the church, which they claim is an important social watchdog.
They also said that they had nothing to celebrate on Jamhuri Day because the church does not enjoy fundamental freedom.
Clergy from the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness, led by Snr Rt. Rev. Amos Wandera, General Overseer and Administrative Secretary, and flanked by Maj. Gen. (Rtd) George Kyana, Senior Archbishop Emeritus, and Senior Archbishop Michael Nieswand, address the media in Nakuru,… pic.twitter.com/ajo8Hdcdgu
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) December 13, 2025
The Religious Organization Amendment Bill.
Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana supported the Religious Organisations Amendment Bill, 2024, which was tabled in the Senate in 2024 but later withdrawn due to public outrage.
But now the government is working on a new draft Religious Organisations Policy that adopts the recommendations from the Presidential Task Force that was formed following the Shakahola religious massacre.
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The proposed Religious Organisations Bill seeks to establish an Advisory Board housed in the Office of the Attorney General. It also seeks to appoint a Registrar of Religious Organisations.
The Bill seeks a Governance Structure in Religious Organisations, demanding a clear management structure, including a Board of Trustees, with at least two-thirds of the members being Kenyan citizens.
New religious organisations will now be required to be supported by at least 25 members of the same faith and endorsed by an Umbrella Religious Organisation.
The Bill will also seek to prohibit religious institutions from engaging in political activities to acquire power or organize debates to support a specific political party.
“You’re Vilifying The Church!” – Clergy To Ruto Over Religious Amendment Bill
