Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has announced that Cabinet will consider the report by the Presidential taskforce on review of laws governing religious organisations in Kenya.
In a statement on April 24, Murkomen revealed that a Cabinet committee received the report of the task force, which recommended reforms to curb religious extremism.
He stated that the full Cabinet will consider the report before transmitting it to Parliament for consideration.
“The Cabinet committee has considered a raft of recommendations by the Mutava Musyimi-led taskforce proposing a legal framework for the regulation of churches. Next week, the cabinet will consider the report and approve it for onward tabling and consideration by the National Assembly,” Murkomen said.
The task force recommended the formulation of a policy framework to deal with religious extremism, sects, and cults.
This is to ensure transparent and responsible practice by religious organisations.
“The process is on course, and reforms recommended will be considered. Those practicing extremist activities will be apprehended as they pose a danger to their congregants. Registration of religious organizations is done with good intentions, but some go ahead to introduce errant teachings,” he noted.
Additionally, Murkomen acknowledged the important role religious institutions play, but faulted a few that take advantage of vulnerable faithfuls seeking divine intervention.
“Regulating religious institutions will cushion Kenyans who are vulnerable and swayed by unsuspecting religious leaders who practice extremist doctrines to solve their issues,” he said.
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Murkomen Reacts to Rongo Church Incident
The CS was reacting to the Migori incident where two congregants died while 57 were rescued from a church after they refused to be treated at a local hospital.
He also lauded the swift action by security officers in Migori County to rein in on a church believed to be engaging in doctrines contrary to the Constitution.
Murkomen confirmed that the police acted swiftly and arrested the culprits, easing concerns about a potential recurrence of a Shakahola-type massacre.
It is this massacre in Kilifi County that led to the formation of the 14-member task force in 2023 by President William Ruto to address the legal gaps that led to the tragedy.
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Message to Security Officers & Kenyans
He also appealed to the public to work closely with security officers to arrest any suspicious activities before they get out of hand, as was the case in Shakahola, where mass graves were discovered at a forest in Kilifi County.
He added that the assistant chiefs and chiefs who are critical at the village level will be held accountable.
“I call on the public to volunteer information,” said Murkomen as he put on notice security officers who fail to act on intelligence from the public.
The CS noted that there are religious leaders skeptical of the reforms but said the move will enable self-regulation and enhance government oversight.
Murkomen was addressing journalists after he held a closed-door meeting with the Kitui county security teams at the start of his Jukwaa la Usalama, Lower Eastern Region tour for public engagement, mobile ID registration outreach, among other activities.
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