New Bill proposes Ksh.5 million fine for pastors who use 'miracles, blessings' to extort Kenyans

The presidential taskforce on the Review of the Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing Religious Organisations in Kenya submitted recommendations to provide clarity on how religious institutions would be governed.

These proposals were included in the Religious Organisations Bill, 2024.

One of the strategies recommended includes hunting down religious leaders who ask their congregation to give cash to earn 'financial favour from God'. 

Those found guilty will be required to pay Ksh.5 million or a ten-year imprisonment or both. 

"A religious leader who by means of any false and fraudulent representations, tricks or schemes as to healing, miracles, blessings or prayers, extorts or fraudulently obtains any financial gain or material benefit from any person or induces the person to deliver money or property to the religious leader commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh.5 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both," reads part of the bill. 

Further, any religious leader who uses force, threats or intimidation to coerce another person to join their religion will pay a fine not exceeding Ksh.1 million or a three-year jail term or both. 

Parents will, however, be legally allowed to determine the religious upbringing of their children. 

On the other hand, anyone who uses religion to belittle another person's religious belief and does anything that threatens their safety will pay Ksh.5 million, 20 years imprisonment or both.

The taskforce also recommended that churches should not engage in politics to gain power or organise a debate to support a political candidate. 

If found guilty, the institution will be liable to pay a fine not exceeding Ksh.500,000 or 6-month imprisonment or both. 

The taskforce was formed in May 2023 to identify and seal loopholes that may have allowed the growth of religious cults in societies. It was led by former National Council Of Churches Of Kenya (NCCK) Secretary-General Dr Mutava Musyimi.

This was in response to the Shakahola tragedy that saw over 400 bodies exhumed from the forest linked to pastor Paul Mackenzie.