Kindiki Gives Way Forward After Court Blocks Ruto's Shakahola Commission On Inquiry
He called upon all Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to provide feedback to the Reverend Mutava Musyimi-led taskforce.
Marvin Chege 
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki announced on Sunday, June 4 that the task force established by President William Ruto in the aftermath of the Shakahola massacre, which killed at least 242 people, will convene for its first sitting on Monday, June 5.
In a statement, CS Kindiki reiterated the government's commitment to cracking down on quack preachers using divine teachings to mislead their congregation and lure them into heinous acts.
He called upon all Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to provide feedback to the Reverend Mutava Musyimi-led taskforce.
Interior CS, Kithure Kindiki addressing other faithful and leaders at the Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG) Sagana Town, Kirinyaga County for worship on Sunday, June 4, 2023. /FACEBOOK.KITHURE KINDIKI
"The task force that was established by President William Ruto to review and regulate frameworks governing religious organisations in Kenya begins its public hearings tomorrow. I urge all Kenyans to candidly, honestly, and objectively submit their views to the 17-member team chaired by Rev. Mutava Musyimi.
"The Government will not back down on the resolve to weed out all rogue preachers who are using the Holy scriptures to mislead, radicalise, and indoctrinate their followers," Kindiki stated in part.
The CS however assured that the task force was not going to war against religion in its effort to avoid a repeat of what took place in Shakahola by dealing with religious extremism in the same way that it has dealt with terrorism.
"The operation on criminals hiding behind religion is not a war against any faith or institution. Crime knows no religion," he went on.
The task force's responsibilities include identifying gaps and recommending legal and governance changes to prevent religious extremism. Additionally, it will inform the standards used to grant certificates to various religious institutions in the country.
They will also engage the public in various forums before submitting the report that will be adopted to guide the operation of religious institutions in the country.
Meanwhile, the CS announced that the third phase of the exhumation of bodies at Shakahola forest will commence on Monday, June 5.
"Unfortunately, there are 22 mass graves that could contain multiple bodies. The search and rescue efforts continue uninterrupted with the multi-agency security team on the ground supported by aerial surveillance," he added.
The announcement came after the High Court on Monday, May 29 issued an order suspending President William Ruto's decision to establish the Commission of Inquiry to probe the Shakahola deaths and religious organizations in Kenya.
Judge Lawrence Mugambi on Monday, May 29 set aside the commission pending the determination of a case before it, further ruling that the Azimio la Umoja coalition had raised serious issues in their petition, thus the court had to intervene.
"It is in the public interest to allow the Commission of Inquiry to start its sitting at the expense of the public before the resolution of the constitutional challenges presented. My answer is that it is not,” the Judge ruled.
Justice Mugambi also stated that other bodies including the Police, Senate and the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHCR) were already carrying out investigations into the matter and were using public funds and resources.
He noted that the commission would need to use more public funds in their activities, a matter which was against the interests of Kenyans.
Through his Lawyer Paul Mwangi, Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga moved to court to block the actions of the Shakahola Tragedy Commission of Inquiry team, accusing the President of usurping powers vested in Parliament in naming the members of the commission.
