Government’s Struggle Against Cult-Like Religions: AG Muturi’s Concerns
The government has acknowledged its inability to prevent cult-like religious institutions from exploiting and preying on vulnerable Kenyans.
Attorney General Justin Muturi told the Senate Ad-hoc Committee that neither his office nor that of the Registrar of Societies have the authority to stop religious institutions that are breaking the law.
Muturi told the committee chaired by Dunstan Mungatana that the Societies Act of 1968, which is currently in effect, is obsolete and cannot help bring sanity to the sector.
”Only a miracle worker or an angel could reasonably suspect that something suspicious is occurring in Shakahola forest. Jane Joram was unaware that Mackenzie had relocated from Malindi to Shakahola,” Muturi stated in defense of the Registrar of Societies.
”The new proposed legislation is the one that proposes governance, ensuring that registered societies are accountable. Currently, however, the registrar is only responsible for the registration and filing of tax returns, which also presents obstacles. I empathize with the registrar who, while sitting in Sheria House, was unaware of Shakahola until she heard about it on the news,” Muturi continued.
Members of the committee insisted that the office of the registrar of societies should bear some responsibility. For what transpired in Shakahola, particularly for failing to prevent mass murders.
To what extent do you believe the government is responsible for failing to hold Good News International accountable and preventing mass murders? questioned Senator Eddy Oketch of Migori.
Muturi admitted that his office had failed to regulate the societies once they were registered. But he blamed a lack of funds and manpower for the inability to digitize his office’s files.
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He informed committee members that over one hundred thousand organizations had been registered. Of which approximately forty thousand were religious institutions.
”Had there been a degree of rigor in regulation, it would have been possible to detect some of the shady activities engaged in by registered entities. “We must digitize the registrar’s office because sifting through 100,000 files to determine who has not filed taxes would require a massive labor force,” he said.
During the hearing, the Registrar of Societies Jane Joram revealed that letters were sent to the Good News International church. Led by Paul Mackenzie and the New Life Prayer Centre led by Ezekiel Odero. Requesting that they explain why their churches should not be closed for failing to file tax returns.
Joram told the committee that the two have never filed tax returns by the law . Since their registration in 2010 and 2012, respectively.
“We have taken the liberty of writing to the Good News Church to request an explanation for why they should not be deregistered due to the activities that have come to light,” she told the committee. “The cancellation notice is typically 30 days in length.”
The New Life Prayer Centre, which has not filed returns since its registration in 2012, will suffer the same fate.
Government’s Struggle Against Cult-Like Religions: AG Muturi’s Concerns
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