Murkomen Eyes Fresh Crackdown On Churches After Rongo Incident
The announcement follows a disturbing incident in Rongo, where 57 people were rescued by police after being found locked inside a church.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has unveiled fresh proposals aimed at tightening oversight of church operations, in a bid to crack down on the growing number of rogue religious leaders.
The announcement follows a disturbing incident in Rongo, where 57 people were rescued by police after being found locked inside a church.
Speaking to the media on Thursday morning, Murkomen revealed that a task force formed by President William Ruto in 2023 has already drafted actionable recommendations. The group was mandated to review the existing laws regulating religious institutions and suggest reforms to curb religious extremism and close legal loopholes.
Murkomen stated that one of the key proposals put forward by the 15-member task force, chaired by former Mbeere South MP Mutava Musyimi, involves implementing stricter regulations on how churches operate.
Photo of the inside of a church. /ADOBE STOCK
He added that the recommendations have already been submitted to the cabinet committee for review, and will later be presented to the full cabinet and Parliament for final approval.
"This is something that we must deal with. The task force appointed by the President, which is led by Mutava Musyimi, has come up with a raft of recommendations, including registration for churches," Murkomen said.
"The report has already been forwarded to the committee in the cabinet, after which it will be forwarded to the cabinet plenary, where it will be discussed and approved before finally being forwarded to the National Assembly."
In the press briefing, Murkomen also praised the police officers in Migori County for their quick action in preventing a tragedy similar to the Shakahola incident at the Rongo church.
This comes a day after the church, Melkio St Joseph’s Missions of Messiah Church in Opapo-Rongo Town, was shut down indefinitely after a wave of disturbing incidents and public backlash over mysterious deaths and illegal burials linked to the church.
This came after the dramatic escalation of events on the night before Easter Monday, April 20, when a family showed up to reclaim the body of their father, whose burial was set to take place on church grounds. With the help of the police, the family stormed the premises and managed to rescue 57 people, along with retrieving the deceased’s body.
Rongo Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner George Matundura told the media that they acted based on credible information they had received. He then announced that members would be barred from entering the church while police investigations are ongoing.
He directed the congregation to select two representatives who would be escorted by police to collect personal items from the premises. "You will select two or three people who will go with the police to bring your belongings. Tomorrow, all of you will be expected to go home. Nobody will be allowed to go to the church," Matundura announced on Wednesday.
Matundura further stated that those who were sick or injured were taken for medical treatment, and police took full control of the church premises.
He also confirmed that two bodies were discovered on-site, with the cause of death still unknown pending autopsy results. The raid and rescue operation came after church leaders denied allegations and rumours claiming that multiple individuals had been secretly buried on the compound in a cult-like manner.
File image of police and faithful at Melkio St Joseph’s Missions of Messiah Church. /KENYA NEWS AGENCY
