Kenya’s fake miracles bill debate heats up in Parliament halls this week, as lawmakers dissect the Draft Religious Organisations Bill, 2024, a sweeping measure slapping fines up to KSh 5 million and jail stints reaching 20 years on pastors peddling bogus healings, squeezing tithes from desperate flocks, or stirring hate sermons that veer into extremism.
The 2023 Shakahola massacre, where over 400 faithful starved under a doomsday pastor’s spell, aims to leash the wilder fringes of faith.
“We’ve seen too many graves dug by greed masked as grace,” Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told the house Tuesday, his voice steady over the chamber’s murmurs.
The proposed Religious Affairs Commission, a new watchdog body, would vet outfits for legitimacy, bar them from electioneering, and probe complaints faster than a Sunday offering plate passes.
No more “miracle water” scams or “seed faith” extortions without repercussions, the drafters vow. Lawmakers split like a congregation at a divisive revival.
“Shakahola wasn’t isolated; it’s the tip of a toxic iceberg,” Elachi argued Wednesday, citing stats from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission that peg religious fraud at KSh 10 billion yearly.
She waved photos of emaciated survivors, their eyes hollow from false promises, drawing nods from backbenchers weary of headlines about “prophets” jetting private while parishioners pawn plots.
The bill’s teeth: mandatory audits for big donors, bans on child recruitment into cults, and a public registry to flag red flags. “This protects the cross, not crucifies it,” Elachi wrapped, her fist light on the podium.
Fears swirl of overreach: small house fellowships shuttered for lacking paperwork, or foreign missionaries deported on whims.
The Inter Religious Council of Kenya, a coalition of bishops and imams, issued a cautious statement Friday, urging tweaks to safeguard Article 32’s worship rights.
“Regulation yes, repression no,” Chair Rev. Mutava Musyimi urged. Public pulse? A cocktail of cheers and chills. In Nairobi’s Eastlands estates, where single moms clutch “anointed oils” for sick kids, WhatsApp groups light up with support: “Finally, accountability for those TV preachers with Lambos.”
The Draft Religious Organisations Policy, 2024, along with the Draft Religious Organisations Bill, 2024, presents important proposals for the regulation of religious institutions and practices.
The primary objective is to avert the misuse of religious beliefs for political advantage. Key provisions dictate that a religious institution must refrain from engaging in political activities aimed at acquiring power, and it must not organise debates to endorse a particular political party or candidate.
This framework aims to uphold a distinct boundary between state and religious institutions, preventing the exploitation of faith for electoral gains.
The proposed legislation aims to protect individuals from coercion and detrimental practices in religious contexts. No individual shall be compelled to engage in a religious practice that poses a risk to their health, safety, or life.
Additionally, it forbids individuals from employing force, threats, intimidation, fraud, or violence to sway another’s beliefs or disbeliefs. It similarly prohibits the use of such methods for recruitment or to prevent a member from leaving a religious organisation.
These clauses serve as essential measures aimed at safeguarding the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals while addressing issues related to harmful cults and manipulative leaders.