Pastors who will be found guilty of using miracles to scam unsuspecting Kenyans will face a 10-year jail term in the proposed Religious Organizations Bill, 2024.
Presented to President William Ruto by the presidential taskforce on the Review of the Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing Religious Organizations in Kenya, the bill also proposes a Ksh5 million fine.
The bill is among recommendations made by the taskforce to provide clarity on how religious institutions are governed.
Moreover, the team, chaired by Mutava Musymi, put together the proposals after travelling across the country to collect views from Kenyans and other stakeholders.
The proposals move to hunt down religious leaders who ask their congregation to give cash to earn ‘financial favor from God’.
“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 Ksh5 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both,” the bill reads in part.
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Other Rules on Pastors Recommended
At the same time, the taskforce has proposed setting up of an office of the Registrar of Religious Organizations to improve reporting mechanisms and enforcement measures.
Additionally, it is pushing for the creation of the Religious Affairs Commission to regulate religious content in the media in consultation with the Communications Authority, security agencies and religious institutions.
“The proposed office will develop and operationalize an integrated and technologically enabled mode of reporting. This will include dedicated toll-free helplines, social media platforms, online platforms, and web/mobile applications,” the report added.
The Taskforce was created to investigate potential legal, institutional and governance issues that could enable the expansion of religious extremist groups, sects and cults.
Their mandate is to propose solutions to prevent these entities from engaging in activities harmful to public’s wellbeing, safety and national principles.
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Ruto Promises to Enforce New Rules
After receiving the report, the president noted that the government would enforce strict new regulations on religious institutions explaining that the taskforce identified challenges and gaps in the policy and legal frameworks correspond to the mandate conferred by the TORs.
“We will continue to safeguard and protect the freedom of religion, but at the same time mitigate its potential abuse to harm Kenyans,” said President Ruto.
Further, the recommendations are geared towards the safeguarding of the exercise of the fundamental freedoms of religion and association while balancing the enjoyment of these freedoms with the preservation of public interest, safety welfare and good as protected by the Constitution.
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