A group of Pentecostal church leaders have decried betrayal over proposed law that seeks to regulate religion.
The Pentecostal Voice of Kenya Association led by Peter Manyuru warned that that the bill, if enacted into law as it is, would seize religious freedoms in the Constitution.
They said churches should be left to self-regulate as their work is largely a calling.
They complained that though the Bill came as a result of investigations into the Shakahola tragedy, "the offence of one person should not be used to target every person."
"We campaigned and had MoU with the government during the last election little did we know that once in power, they would turn their back on us and even target us for punishment," Manyuru said.
The Religious Organisations Bill, of 2024, provides a regulatory framework, tough conditions for registration and harsh punishment for rogue operators.
A religious leader who operates an unregistered organisation will risk a Sh5 million fine, three years in jail or both.
The Bill sponsored by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has already been introduced in the Senate for First Reading following sittings by the Senate ad-hoc committee after its enquiry into the mass deaths in Shakhahola, Kilifi County linked to religious extremists.
The Bill proposes that religious leaders who use manipulative schemes of prayers in pretence of healing and miracles to obtain money from their followers fraudulently face a Sh5 million fine or 10 years in jail.
On Monday, Manyuru demanded that the Bill be withdrawn completely, asserting that any religious leader on the wrong should be pursued individually.
The new Bill establishes the office of registrar of religious organisations. The office shall be headed by the registrar assisted by a deputy registrar.
The registrar shall issue, suspend or revoke certificates of registration.
The registrar shall also maintain a register of all registered organisations and umbrella religious organisations.
The office shall also regularly and at least once every year, inspect the premises and records of registered religious organisations.
