Protect citizens from cults and rogue clergy
What you need to know:
- Many cases of sexual exploitation go unreported for fear of upsetting churches but a sense of betrayal lingers in the minds of victims.
- A pastor from one of the leading churches told me that they no longer encourage vigils after they discovered that the term was used as euphemism for sexual orgies.
- Although a prayer is between an individual and God, these crooked people have decided to create intermediation services for desperate and vulnerable people.
- The frequency of bad behaviour by men of God now is at the point where some level of regulation is necessary.
Last week, a Nigerian pastor of Jesus Dominion International Church was arrested in Durban, South Africa following an accusation of sexually abusing teenage girls in his church.
The pastor will face several charges, including rape and trafficking of more than 30 girls and women from various parts of South Africa to his house in KwaZulu-Natal for the purpose of sexually exploiting them.
SIMILAR CASES
This is not an isolated case of men of God misbehaving. The number of rogue priests is on the rise.
On September 12, 2018, a pastor in Mwingi West constituency raped a 17-year-old girl and impregnated her. A DNA test ordered by the court shows that the pastor is the father of her unborn child. He is out on a Sh200,000 bond.
In Kaiti constituency, Makueni County, a pastor raped a woman congregant of his church. The pastor says he was exorcising evil spirits from the woman. The matter was reported at Nzaui Police Station.
In June this year, a priest was arrested for sodomising a 17-year-old teenager who worshiped in his church. The incident took place in Gonda village, Kigumo constituency, Murang'a County.
Church members had been suspicious of his activities with young men, so much that they kept watch until the incident took place.
UNREPORTED
Many similar cases of sexual exploitation go unreported for fear of upsetting churches, but a sense of betrayal lingers in the minds of victims.
Most of these sexual exploitation incidents happen at church vigils popularly known as Kesha.
A pastor from one of the leading churches told me that they no longer encourage vigils after they discovered that the term was used as a euphemism for sexual orgies.
It is not just sexual escapades that is giving a bad name to religious organisations. It is no secret that several of the non-traditional churches are out to make money.
Some of these churches have a menu of services they offer for a price. For instance, in some of those churches, a prayer for passing examination costs Sh5,000, getting a job promotion goes for Sh10,000, and business success Sh20,000.
DESPERATION
Although a prayer is between an individual and God, these crooked people have decided to create intermediation services for desperate and vulnerable people.
These people wield enormous amount of power over unsuspecting citizens through indoctrination and causing a heightened sense of guilt.
The frequency of bad behaviour by men of God now is at the point where some level of regulation is necessary.
The little time I had with two victims of this unfortunate betrayal revealed that they continue to carry the burden of guilt like a heavy malignant cancer that remains manifest in them with serious lifelong consequences.
Underneath the skins of seemingly-happy churchgoers lie a sense of unworthiness full of sins (some brought unto them by rogue church leaders) that some are simply mental cases waiting to explode.
Irrational behaviour patterns are not uncommon. Some church followers are known to have sold their entire earthly possessions to pay God’s debt (accumulated tithe) leaving the entire family in shambles. Meanwhile, the pastors in charge move around in private jets.
RICHES
Indeed, the richest pastor in the world, David Oyedepo of Winner’s Chapel, has a net worth of more than Sh15 billion. With investments in 45 countries in Africa, Oyedepo has some of the spikiest private jets to move around the continent.
Locally, some of the richest Kenyans are pastors of churches that did not exist two decades ago.
Although the Kenyan Constitution guarantees freedom of worship, like individual liberties, there must be limits or else we create thousands of religious organisations taking advantage of the most vulnerable people.
At the minimum, let there be proper governance of contributions by the faithful to the church.
If it is not possible for the church leaders to imitate the simplicity of Jesus, then let there be a regulatory regime to save the vulnerable from being exploited by a few opportunists in the name of God.
RULES
My proposal for regulation of religious groups is not entirely new. In 2016, then Attorney General, Githu Muigai, proposed the Religious Societies Rules to govern the religious sector.
Unfortunately, the regulations were ahead of their time and it seemed absurd to regulate religious organisations. President Uhuru Kenyatta stepped in to withdraw the rules after meeting with religious leaders.
The debate for and against regulation of religious groups continues to excite many Kenyans. This debate should be encouraged and supported by evidence.
At the minimum, the religious leaders should not wish away some of the emerging offences against young people.
They should at least begin a discourse around how they should behave, just like any other professional organisation registered under Societies Act.
They should, for example, develop a self-regulation framework that could protect the citizens from their rogue members whose aim is to financially and sexually exploit the most vulnerable people through indoctrination.
Richard Dawkins once said, ''Do not indoctrinate your children. Teach them how to think for themselves, how to evaluate evidence, and how to disagree with you.''
We should perhaps be working to make our children think for themselves.
The writer is an associate professor at University of Nairobi’s School of Business.
