Any religious leader who falsely performs miracles, healings or blessings to extort Kenyans will be guilty of committing an offence if the recommendations of a task force formed by President William Ruto are adopted.
The taskforce on the Review of the Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing Religious Organisations in Kenya submitted recommendations to provide clarity on how religious institutions would be governed.
The strategies that would be used include hunting down religious leaders who ask their congregation to give cash to earn ‘financial favour from God’. Those found guilty will pay Ksh.5 million or 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 and 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,” read the bill.
The bill further stated that any religious leader who uses force, threats or intimidation to coerce another person to join their religion will pay a fine not exceeding Ksh.1 million or a three-year jail term or both.
However, parents will determine the religious upbringing of their children.
The bill further stated that anyone who uses religion to belittle another or threatens their safety will pay Ksh.5 million, 20 years imprisonment or both.
The taskforce recommended that churches should not engage in politics to gain power or organize a debate to support a political candidate.
If the institution will be found guilty, they will pay a fine not exceeding Ksh.500,000 or 6-month imprisonment or both.
The taskforce was formed in May 2023 to identify and seal loopholes that may have allowed the growth of religious cults in societies. This was in response to the Shakahola massacre that saw over 400 bodies exhumed from the forest linked to pastor Paul Mackenzie.
