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Kenya sets new regulations for religious leaders, churches
By Cyrus Ombati | Monday, Jan 11th 2016 at 08:54
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Attorney General Githu Muigai
Kenya: New rules that require clerics to submit certificates of good conduct and their theological training certificates are now ready for implementation.

The Religious Societies Rules published by the Attorney General‘s Office also require that all religious organisations submit their constitution showing statement of their doctrine of faith. The rules affect imams, pastors, rabbis and other religious leaders.


Any religious society in Kenya must have its constitution with programmes, ministries, charitable activities and education activities undertaken by the religious society and details of persons coordinating these activities. According to the new rules, all religious societies must be registered and open to the registrar's inspection any time. All religious leaders must make a declaration of familial relations with other religious leaders and officers. In this case, officers include secretary, treasurer, trustees and committee members.

They also demand that all pastors in Kenya must hold a theological certificate from an accredited theological institution. The new rules are set to be gazetted at the end of January, officials at the Attorney General's Office said Sunday. They will, however, be operational after a year.


The rules are aimed at regulating religious bodies. They will affect all faiths, including mainstream Christian, Hindu and Islamic institutions and the numerous small groupings that have been accused of conning and brainwashing their followers or engaging in radicalisation and other dangerous doctrines.

Back in November 2014, Attorney General Githu Muigai had promised regulations to help streamline churches and mosques following a public outcry. This was aimed at weeding out those who want to commercialise churches and stop mosques from being used as breeding grounds for terrorists.


"Recent media reports on alleged illicit activities by certain religious institutions have necessitated us to take remedial action," he had said in a statement.

See also: Lobbies differ on proposed laws meant to tame clerics
Aware that the Constitution provides for the freedom of worship, Prof Muigai said the Government was only seeking to hold religious leaders accountable to their flock.

"The idea of religious freedom is fundamental. However, it cannot be left without oversight. People want the Government to do more," he said.

And recently, Deputy President William Ruto promised 'suitable amendments', saying the Government will not muzzle the church. Ruto assured faithful during a Sunday service at Jesus Celebration Church in Bamburi, Mombasa. "We will do the necessary amendments to ensure only those who are misusing the word of God are dealt with," he said.

However, a section of the clergy have faulted the Government over the proposed rules aimed at radically changing the way churches operate.

The new regulations also demand that any individual church be a member of an umbrella body and each body must have 2,500 churches registered as an Umbrella Religious Society. They also require that any religious organisation submit a letter of authorisation from the headquarters and a copy of a duly notarised registration certificate of the headquarters, specify the physical address from which it intends to operate, which shall include details on the land reference number or plot number, building, floor and the street or road on which the religious society will be situated...
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/mobile/article/2000187709/kenya-sets-new-regulations-for-religious-leaders-churches

Good. We need something similar here in Nigeria. The time for mistaking poverty as GOD's call is over.

Pastors be flying private jets while the congregation is enmeshed in blatant penury..

Cc lalasticlala

sonOfLucifer:
Good. We need something similar here in Nigeria. The time for mistaking poverty as GOD's call is over.

what do you know about God when you are son of lucifer?. Those people who don't have a call are the people going to theological school but if your call is divine , holy spirit will teach you what to teach.

jcross19:
what do you know about God when you are son of lucifer?.

Three nails. One dead God. EOD.

jcross19:

Those people who don't have a call are the people going to theological school

And you know this how?

jcross19:

but if your call is divine , holy spirit will teach you what to teach.

Apparently, either the Holy Spirit produces lots of mumus, or the 'mumuzilance' of the students is beyond the teacher. No wonder Pentecostal churches have the highest number of mumu in the land.

jcross19:
what do you know about God when you are son of lucifer?. Those people who don't have a call are the people going to theological school but if your call is divine , holy spirit will teach you what to teach.

Lol.

sonOfLucifer:
Good. We need something similar here in Nigeria. The time for mistaking poverty as GOD's call is over.

The rules are not stringent enough.
It didn't deal with the issues of money. How it is collected, whomnit belongs to, and how the church spends and accounts for the public money.

Church money is public money.

plaetton:


The rules are not stringent enough.
It didn't deal with the issues of money. How it is collected, whomnit belongs to, and how the church spends and accounts for the public money.

Church money is public money.

Crazy... might be financing thieves and drug lords and we'd never know it. Huge enterprise.. just gave me an idea for a new graphic.

What of financial accountability?

That they must have theological certificates before preaching is not a smart move. Men of God are made by God himself and not religious institutions.

Speechless3:

. Men of God are made by God himself...

lol.

sonOfLucifer:

lol.

Am not lying

It is high time.

Where are the moderators of this forum. do the needful. take this to front page

People are concerned that the state is making it hard to preach. And in addition to the rules, they also published a 'broadcasting code" also targeting TV preachers and their expansion. ..

"...What the Code outlaws is misuse of broadcasting services to exploit audiences,” he added.

He further explained that, in terms of religion, the Code issued by the Authority is aimed at ensuring religious programming nurtures social harmony and does not exploit the susceptibilities of audiences. .. " http://www.cio.co.ke/news/top-stories/wangusi-clarifies-ca’s-rules-on-televangelism

There are two points of note;
1. Banning soliciting for funds on radio and tv
2. Banning conversions on radio and tv

I have a problem with the first because much as it is abused,soliciting is a fact of life
The second one is as asinine as you can get. What is wrong with conversions?

If there are fraudulent soliciting and conversions, then banning all of these activities is a serious infringement of the rights of the believers. Best way would be to criminalize these( I'm sure they have) and then descend on violators with brute force. But the government knowing they have an uphill task of proving abuse of any of these two chooses the laziest way out; ban everything

These rules will never see the light of day.

Most likely Vooks, the religious leaders have sworn to rally the masses to vote out the govt. So they are ready to talk. But the rules have already been gazetted.

muafrika:
Most likely Vooks, the religious leaders have sworn to rally the masses to vote out the govt. So they are ready to talk. But the rules have already been gazetted.

They can will be challenged for their constitutionality and I can see lawyers laughing all the way to the bank. Kenya is a vibrant democracy. Elections are a few months away I think later this year or next year. This is no time to disenfranchise Christian voters