- The government has displayed helplessness in cracking down on rogue media airing offensive content and extremist teachings on religious channels.
- ICT CS Eliud Owalo said there is currently no legislation in place for the government to switch off the channels.
Image: FILE
The government has been helpless in cracking down on rogue media cairing dangerous content amid extremist teachings on religious channels.
Shakhola cult leader Paul Mackenzie allegedly owned a television station to spread his teachings but later sold it.
The bodies of more than 400 followers have been found in Shakahola forest in Kilifi county
ICT CS Eliud Owalo said there is currently no legislation in place for the government to switch-off the channels.
Appearing before the Senate ad hoc committee probing the cult deaths in Shakahola, Owalo saidthe government was working on a bill give the state power to turn off channels and social media airing dangerous content.
“We are ready to benchmark with the best practices elsewhere on the management of content aired on our various broadcast and social media platforms,” Owalo told the panel.
The panel chaired by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana is probing the deaths of the followers of cult leader Makenzie; many starved themselves to death to reach Jesus sooner and some were murdered.
Makenzie is alleged to have owned a television station that he reportedly used to spread radical teachings. He reportedly later sold the station.
The committee had demanded to know why the government had not switched off the station.
“Nigeria is on record suspending the airing of live miracles in their media channels. What about Kenya?” Mungatana asked.
“Something needs to be done so that we do not have another religious leader indoctrinating Kenyans just like Mr Mackenzie has done, leading to the deaths of over 400 people,” he said.
The senator said that the ministry should have ordered removal of all digital content related to Mackenzie the moment it was found out that he was involved in the promotion of a cult that advocated fatal starvation. for his congregation.
“It is unfortunate that we have some religious leaders engaging in activities that are aimed at getting money from desperate Kenyans through content they broadcast kn various channels."
"It is time the government reined on this to prevent another Shakahola from happening,” he added.
Owalo said he will be setting up a call center for all public complaints at the Konza Technopolis, which will be relayed tot government departments for action and that the phone numbers that will be toll free will be revealed to Kenyans.