President William Ruto has criticized the newly proposed Religious Organizations Bill of 2024, which seeks to regulate religious activities and institutions across the country, labelling it as impractical and unnecessary state overreach.
Speaking on Sunday at the AIC Milimani Church in Nairobi, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the freedom of worship, which is enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution.
“The freedom of worship is guaranteed by our constitution, therefore my administration will protect the freedom of worship in our country as envisioned by the law. There will be no limitation whatsoever on the freedom of worship,” Ruto declared.
The President went on to describe the bill, which is sponsored by Tana RiverSenator, Danson Buya Mungatana as “ill-advised.” He emphasized that his administration would not impose any regulations on religious organizations and in-
stead called for religious leaders to take the lead in establishing self-regulatory guidelines. He reiterated the importance of religious institutions driving any necessary reforms, as recommended by the Presidential Taskforce led by Rev. Mutava Musyimi.
The taskforce was established to provide a policy framework for addressing religious extremism, sects, cults, and other concerns that have emerged due to gaps in the current legal structure governing religious organizations.
While dismissing the bill, Ruto urged all stakeholders to respect the Constitution when proposing policies regarding self-regulation and government oversight of religious organizations. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to safe-
guarding religious freedom in the country, saying, “I want to remind those involved in this process that the Kenyan Constitution is explicit, and there will be no compromise or limitation on the freedom of worship.”
The proposed bill, currently under its first reading in the Senate, follows the Senate ad-hoc committee’s investigation into the Shakahola mass deaths, which were linked to religious extremists. It suggests stringent punitive measures for unregistered religious institutions and fraudulent religious operators, including a fine of Sh5 million, up to 10 years in prison, or both for those found guilty of exploiting followers.
“A person shall not establish, manage, or operate a religious organization or assist in such activities unless the organization is registered,” the bill states.
The proposal has been met with opposition from several religious leaders and groups, who argue that it infringes on their freedom of worship and could restrict spiritual practices. Critics of the bill claim that it could curtail certain religious activities that are crucial for the spiritual growth of their followers.
In response to concerns about rogue religious leaders and cults, President Ruto challenged religious leaders and organizations to create robust self-regulation mechanisms to prevent exploitation within their communities. However, he firmly rejected the idea of state control over religious practices, insisting that any legislative efforts aimed at regulating religious organizations must align with the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.
The bill also highlights the current fragmented system of regulation, noting the absence of a central authority to enforce compliance. It proposes that religious organizations be eligible for registration if they are supported by at least 25 individuals of the same faith and endorsed by an umbrella religious body, which must also support at least 25 other registered organizations.