Prophet David Owuor of Ministry of Repentance and Holiness and his Jesus is Alive Ministries counterpart Margaret Wanjiru have rejected proposals to ban broadcast of miracles.
The two said stopping the broadcasts would not curb rising cases of innocent Kenyans being deceived by wicked preachers.
“At the time the miracle is happening, no one is in control. The broadcasting house or even the preacher may not know that a miracle is about to happen,” Wanjiru said.
Appearing before the Senate Ad hoc Committee investigating the deaths of more than 400 followers of Pastor Paul Mckenzie in Shakahola, Kilifi, Wanjiru said miracles should just be confirmed by authorities to weed out fake preachers.
“We have institutions that should act when people are being taken for a ride. I also want to state that most of the people who perform fake miracles are not from this country,” she said.
Wanjiru said that aside from medical healing, there are other miracles like getting a job, securing a visa and even a fixed marriage which can be confirmed easily.
Committee chairperson Danson Mungatana had asked whether they should propose a ban on broadcast of miracles since Kenyans consume the news before they are verified.
He said some preachers claim to heal their followers with no confirmation from doctors.
Lawyer Gerald Odiwuor, who represented Prophet Owuor, told the committee that most victims of Shakahola were looking for miracles.
“HIV, cancer and other cases cannot be claimed to be miracles immediately. But for cases like the crippled, you can see their condition before and after healing. For illnesses, the cases should be taken back to the doctors to confirm,” Wanjiru said.
He maintained that certified doctors should confirm claims of miracles by religious leaders.
Zachary Kasipul, a surgeon who represented the church at the meeting, said many people who died at Shakahola may have been looking for miracles.
"Miracles still happen. There are good churches out there that can perform miracles," he said.
Kasipul claimed to have witnessed a woman who was HIV positive and was healed through a miracle. The doctor told the committee he conducted tests himself to confirm the woman was free of the virus, after confirming the records of the first tests.
Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli wondered how miracles that cannot be confirmed scientifically would be proven.
Baringo Senator William Cheptumo took issue with the claims of miracles, saying the guests were using the session to advance goals of a particular church.
"Let us resist the temptation to use the occasion to push the interests of this church," he said.