The government will not relent on its move to vet and regulate all churches in the country.
Responding to a section of church leaders who have objected to the move, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has said the government will not sit back and watch impostors, hiding behind the church, continue perpetuating their criminal activities.
The CS spoke at PEFA Church in Kamahuha, Murang’a South sub-county, Sunday, during a fundraising event to assist in the completion of a church building, where he questioned the rationale of those opposed to the government’s move to regulate faith-based organizations operating in the country.
He observed that many of the very top government officials, including President Dr. William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, are religious people who constantly visit places of worship and therefore cannot oppress the church.
“The best thing we can do for the country is to ensure that another Shakahola massacre never happens. We will not allow somebody else who is not licensed and is only deciding on his own how to run a church, without being held accountable at all to continue hurting Kenyans,” he emphasized.
Prof. Kindiki divulged that so far 336 bodies have been exhumed at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County, saying 94 of them were exhumed in the third phase of the exercise.
He argued that previously, many Kenyans thought extremism only existed in the Islamic religion, but the happenings at Shakahola have since proven otherwise.
“It’s unfortunate that many lives have been lost in Shakahola where people thought they could get help, only to end up losing their lives in very unclear circumstances. Such an incident will not happen again in this country,” he reiterated, amid fears of even more graves at the site.
“However, we will continue providing the right information to Kenyans; we have nothing to hide about the incident. The actual number of those who perished in Shakahola will ultimately be known.
I appeal to Kenyans to remain patient, especially those who have lost their loved ones, as the process of doing DNA will take a bit longer,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prof. Kindiki has urged church leaders to join hands with the government with a view to weeding out criminals disguised as pastors.
“As a government mandated to protect the lives of Kenyans, we must know all religious leaders, who they are through their various groups, while ensuring that they are licensed and qualified to lead. This message should go to all bishops, reverends, priests, pastors, sheikhs, and imams,” he added.
By Bernard Munyao
