The Catholic Bishops of Kenya have criticised the proposed religious societies rules 2015 on which they say that it is a clear violation of the constitution which draws a clear line between the Church and state.
Speaking during a press conference at Waumini House – Westlands on 12 January 2016 the Chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Rt. Rev Philip Anyolo termed the laws which demand that ‘all religion/denomination keep records of followers’ as unrealistic and untenable and that it will change their identity and become mere registration centres.
“To demand that Churches keep records of their followers will effectively reduce Christianity into a game of numbers, and water down the mission of the Church which is evangelization and assisting people to become better persons,” he said adding that “Matters of faith are not about numbers. They are about conversion of the soul.”
Kenya's Office of the Attorney General has introduced new rules, expected to take effect next month, with the aim of regulating religious organisations and their leaders. The Religious Societies Compliance Rules, drafted in December and open for deliberation until February 18th, will require clerics and administrators of religious organisations to register with the authorities or face revocation of their licences.
Under the new rules, religious leaders must obtain certificates of clearance from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and all religious organisations must file annual tax returns.
Priests, imams, swamis and the administrative officers of religious establishments, such as trustees and committee members, will have to provide their personal identification numbers and a copy of their national identification card, copies of their tax clearance or tax exemption certificates, certificates of good conduct from the CID and EACC, and professional credentials in order to operate lawfully.
In addition, religious institutions will have to list the location of each branch, the leaders and administrators associated with each location, and any other affiliated organisations.
Missionaries and international preachers also will be required to obtain a letter of recommendation from their respective embassies and a Kenyan work permit.
The move, according to the government aimed to develop more stringent rules to regulate faith-based organisations in response to public complaints that some were extorting money under false pretences; taking advantage of their flocks by fleecing them of their hard earned cash in exchange for miracles while others are using these religious institutions and holy scriptures to indoctrinate followers with extremist ideology.
By AMECEA Online News Reporters