Churches reject AG regulation proposal

Some Pentecostal churches have protested the proposed regulations aimed at taming rogue religious leaders and groups.

The Kenya National Congress of Pentecostal Churches and Ministries denied coming up with the new rules during its meeting with the Attorney-General at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

The congress has called a meeting today at Huruma Redeemed Church to discuss the proposals.

Deputy Chairman Stephen Ndicho said he was at the AG’s meeting on November 14, last year, and claimed religious leaders only had an informal discussion with Prof Githu Muigai but never drafted any regulations.

“The AG summoned religious organisations for a consultative meeting, which had no agenda as at the time of invitation,” he told the Nation on Thursday.

The proposed rules, dated December 18, are aimed at monitoring religious institutions and will affect all faiths.

Also included are numerous small groupings that have been accused of conning and brainwashing their followers or engaging in radicalisation and other dangerous doctrines.

If adopted, the AG’s rules would require imams, pastors, rabbis and other religious leaders to obtain certificates of good conduct from the police and clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

There are separate rules for foreigners seeking to carry out religious work in Kenya.

“When we arrived for the meeting, word spread that the AG had drafted regulations for the religious organisations, which some, led by the Evangelicals, vehemently opposed and indeed boycotted the meeting,” said Bishop Ndicho.

He, however, said preachers were in support of efforts to tame rogue ministers through formation of an umbrella organisation made up of religious groups.