Clergy urges Government to revoke gazzettment of taskforce to review laws governing churches

May 9, 2023 - 18:23

(Right) Kenya National Congress representative Bishop Dr Robert Mutemi makes his remarks as Church and Clergy Association of Kenya [CCAK] chair Bishop Hudson Ndeda (Left) looks on during a press briefing where they asked the President to revoke the gazetted taskforce dated 5th May, 2023 and come up with an all-inclusive membership which represents Pentecostal and charismatic churches at Boulevard Hotel, Nairobi on 9th may 2023.

Nairobi, Tuesday, May 9, 2023

KNA by Ali Sheikh Mohamed

Church and Clergy Association of Kenya (CCAK) chair Bishop Hudson Ndeda has asked the President to revoke gazettement of the task force established to review laws governing churches dated May 5, 2023 and come up with an all-inclusive membership incorporating Pentecostal and Charismatic churches.

Bishop Ndeda said although they appreciate the actions taken by the government to bring the mastermind of heinous crimes to speedy justice, they vehemently oppose the knee-jerk reaction by the Kenya Kwanza administration against religious liberty via the gazetted taskforce.

He insisted that the taskforce that was established without any consultation with Pentecostal umbrella bodies was ill-advised.

“None of the persons gazetted are leaders of our collective association hence the report will definitely be biased against Pentecostal and charismatic churches,” Ndeda lamented.

The CCAK Chairperson made the remarks during a presser in Nairobi when he claimed that the institution is aware that Pastor Paul Mackenzie posed as a Pentecostal and charismatic church preacher hence intended regulations will greatly affect the Pentecostal churches.

He added that church leaders are apprehensive that failure to include them in the taskforce will prejudice and oppress the Pentecostal and charismatic churches.

“It is on record that our respective societies have been part and parcel of the reforms at the Attorney General’s Office since 2014 upon which we have championed for self-regulation under our respective umbrella bodies,” stated Ndeda, maintaining that church leaders have already reinstituted self-regulation reforms under the Societies act.

At the same time Kenya National Congress representative Bishop Dr Robert Mutemi remarked that churches are already regulated under the Societies Act and added they cannot be coming up with new regulations every time they have such individual cases.

Mutemi stressed that churches should not be treated differently from the rest when it comes to dealing with rogue elements in the society as they pointed out the lack of the same approach when it comes to dealing with rogue politicians, lawyers, doctors and teachers.

Courtesy; K.N.A