Church leaders in Kisii County have rallied against the recently proposed Religious Organisations Bill, which seeks to impose taxation on church proceeds and define the qualifications for religious leaders.
This legislation, seen as a direct attack on the autonomy of religious institutions, has ignited passionate debates among community figures who assert that it undermines the very foundation of their operations.
The chairperson of the Kisii County churches Laurence Mwambia expressed deep frustration over the bill's inception.
“The bill is from the West and it does not comply with God's presence and God's spirit,” he declared.
“Those who wrote it didn’t seek advice first. A church is not a Chama to put laws on and it helps raise funds for the needy in the village, the orphans, and pay school fees without the help of the government. There is no reason for them to benefit from us.”
Another religious leader, added his voice saying, “Our honorable members of parliament have made a mistake, they think that every avenue is an opportunity to create revenue. Let this bill be removed entirely as the church can regulate itself.”
They further emphasized the church's ability to self-govern saying they have umbrellas that can govern every church, and they cannot be regulated by the government but their respective umbrellas.
Last week, members of Parliament endorsed the bill, which aims to establish stringent requirements for charitable organizations, including churches and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), to qualify for tax exemptions.
The Religious Organisations Bill, of 2024 also provides a regulatory framework, tough conditions for registration and harsh punishment for rogue operators.
The Bill sponsored by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has already been introduced in the Senate for First Reading.
