Ruto Issues Way Forward On Bill Proposing Ksh5 Million Fines For Churches
The President assured religious leaders that they would come up with their regulations after the Bill drew uproar from religious organizations over some of its contentious proposals.
Marvin Chege 
President William Ruto on Sunday, October 5 broke his silence on the Religious Organizations Bill 2024, which sought to regulate religious activities across the country.
Speaking at Africa Inland Church (AIC) in Milimani, Nairobi, the President assured religious leaders that they would come up with their regulations after the Bill drew uproar from religious organizations over some of its contentious proposals.
The Bill, proposed by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana sought to demand that churches pay taxes on income, gifts, or profits generated from lawful activities. According to the bill, the revenues would not be exempt from taxation unless entirely allocated to charitable causes.
Ruto thus vowed to protect the freedom of worship which is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya and assured that Kenya will remain a God-fearing nation even though the religious bill recommended the control of religious organizations.
Tana River Senator, Danson Mungatana during a past address. /FACEBOOK
"Apart from what the constitution provides, we are a God-fearing nation, and we will equally defend our faith as Christians and different religions. We will make sure that we protect the freedom of worship in Kenya.
"I want to ask those with ideas to allow religious leaders themselves to develop how they want to regulate themselves and how the organisations are going forward," said the president.
Ruto admitted that some proposals made in some quotas about regulation of the church, worship, and religious activities were in existence but maintained that there should be extensive public participation with religious groups on how they want to be regulated.
"I want to remind those who are pursuing that kind of exercise that the constitution is very explicit on the freedom of worship and there will be no limitation whatsoever on the freedom of worship in Kenya,” Ruto said.
The draft Religious Organisations Bill, 2024, was submitted to President Ruto on July 30, 2024, by the Presidential Taskforce tasked with reviewing the legal and regulatory framework for religious organizations in Kenya.
The proposed legislation aims to create the Religious Affairs Commission, which will oversee religious activities in the country. Under the bill, every religious institution in Kenya will be required to submit financial returns, member registers, and other necessary documentation to the commission.
Additionally, any religious organisation that fails to file its annual returns may face suspension for up to six months.
The bill also proposes penalties for non-compliance, including fines of up to Ksh5 million, imprisonment for a maximum of three years, or both. The Bill also called for the creation of a theological training curriculum and a code of conduct for religious leaders.
Mungatana noted that the Religious Organizations Bill 2024 aims to combat extremism and tackle the challenges posed by the rise of unregulated religious organizations in recent years. However, religious leaders including those in Nairobi called for the bill to be immediately withdrawn.
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