Nairobi News

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has urged mainstream churches to take the lead in promoting the true gospel to members of the public.

He put to task the said churches for taking a backseat leading to the proliferation of cult-like faiths in the country that have claimed lives in the past.

“I want to assure you that as we clean the faith space, we want to work with mainstream churches toward this. Had the church taken the lead, we would not have had false beliefs like Shakahola and I want to appeal to mainstream churches to take the lead to preach the true gospel as it is,” said the PS.

He spoke at a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church fundraiser event in Ziwa, Uasin Gishu County.

The controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church came to the limelight when more than 400 bodies were discovered in Chakama Ranch in Shakahola Forest linked to his church.

The pastor is facing charges in relation to the incident.

Mackenzie, a suspected cult leader, is alleged to have forced his followers to fast to death so as to meet Jesus.

In August 2023, the government deregistered five churches including the Good News International Church.

In May 2023, a section of religious leaders in the North Rift region petitioned the State to take firm action against the rogue leaders who violate human rights.

The leaders drawn from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), and Supkem also pushed for vetting of the religious leaders who preach in learning institutions to protect learners.

The leaders maintained there is a need to regulate practices in religious institutions and not beliefs in Kenya to protect citizens against cults.

“There is no law that can regulate we practice our faith, we should have legislation to regulate how one practices their faith… because some of the ways some practice their religion is against human rights and laws of the land because there is killing, human sacrifice or organ harvesting,” stated Reverend Joseph Barasa from NCCK.

PS Omollo was accompanied by his counterpart Prof Julius Bitok, Governors Jonathan Bii Chelilim (Uasin Gishu), Prof Hillary Barchok (Bomet), and Elgeyo Marakwet’s Wisely Rotich. Others were MPs David Kiplagat (Soy), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), and Julius Rutto (Kesses) among others.

The leaders also waded into the country’s politics, even as a section poured cold water on Kalonzo Musyoka’s candidature in the next general elections.

Mr Odhiambo dismissed Azimio’s co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka’s candidature in 2027, claiming that the former vice president lacked the political weight to compete with President William Ruto.

“I want to tell you that Kalonzo is a lightweight and cannot match President Ruto’s political prowess. I can tell you that he should come and compete with me,” said a lawmaker who was elected on ODM ticket.

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