Ruto extends Church laws review taskforce term by 90 days

 

President William Ruto has extended the term of taskforce investigating proliferation of religious organisations in the country by 90 days.

Ruto, in a Gazette notice released on Friday said the activities of the taskforce had been extended with effect from November 4, 2023.

“It is notified for the general public that His Excellency William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces has extended the term of the Taskforce on the Review of the Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing Religious Organizations for a period of ninety (90) days, with effect from the 4th November, 2023,” the notice reads.

The 17-member task force formed to probe churches in the country begun collecting views from the public in June.

The taskforce had been given six months to complete its mandate.

Some of the roles assigned to the task force include identifying gaps and proposing legal and governance changes to prevent religious extremism.

The taskforce is also expected to formulate proposals on standards and minimum certification requirements for all religious organisations and their leaders for them to be allowed to be registered and to operate in their local communities

The team chaired by former Mbeere MP Mutava Musyimi is tasked with reviewing the legal and regulatory frameworks governing religious organisations.

Its formation is a result of the Shakahola massacre in which more than 200 members of a religious-like cult died of alleged starvation.

While establishing the task force, President William Ruto likened Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s actions to religious terrorism.

“What we are witnessing in Kilifi is kin to terrorism. There is no difference between Mackenzie who pretends and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal,” he said adding terrorists use religion to do the same thing.

The taskforce will be required to develop standards to be used in granting certificates to various religious institutions in the country.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has maintained the government will not back down on the resolve to weed out all rogue preachers who are using the Holy Scriptures to mislead, radicalise and indoctrinate their followers.

BY THE STAR