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A new law is being proposed in Kenya to address the issue of religious leaders who deceive their followers with fake miracles to get money.
If passed, this bill would impose a fine of KSh 5 million or a prison sentence of up to 10 years for those found guilty of such actions. The proposed law also includes penalties for using religion to belittle or threaten others.
The bill comes at a time when the country is still reeling from the Shakahola massacre, which saw the tragic loss of over 400 lives.
The proposed bill has been put forward by the head of state’s task force on the Review of the Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing Religious Organisations in Kenya.
The main aim is to create guidelines that will help regulate religious practices in the country more effectively.
One of the key provisions in the bill is the punishment for religious leaders who deceive their followers through fake miracles, blessings, or prayers to extort money or other material benefits.
According to the bill, any religious leader who uses false or fraudulent means to gain financially from their followers will be committing an offense.
If convicted, they could face a fine of up to KSh 5 million, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.
Additionally, the bill addresses the issue of religious intolerance. It proposes severe penalties for anyone who uses their religious platform to belittle or threaten other people's beliefs or well-being. Such actions could result in a fine of KSh 5 million, a prison sentence of up to 20 years, or both.
The proposed law also includes a provision that protects the rights of parents and guardians to raise their children within the religion of their choice.
This means that while the bill seeks to regulate harmful practices within religious organisations, it also respects the rights of families to maintain their religious traditions and practices.
The bill is being introduced in the wake of the Shakahola massacre, an event that has shocked the nation and the world. Over 400 people lost their lives in what has been described as one of the most horrific incidents related to a religious cult in Kenya’s history.
The massacre took place in Shakahola, where a religious cult led by a self-proclaimed pastor was discovered. The pastor had convinced his followers to starve themselves to death in order to meet Jesus.
The gruesome discovery of mass graves in Shakahola has led to widespread calls for stricter regulations on religious organisations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The government has responded by forming a task force to review and recommend changes to the legal and regulatory framework governing religious organisations in Kenya. The proposed bill is one of the outcomes of this task force's work.
If passed, the enforcement of this bill will require the cooperation of various stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and civil society organisations.
There will be a need for public awareness campaigns to educate people about the new regulations and the penalties for violating them.
The response from the public has been mixed. Many people support the bill, seeing it as a necessary step to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation by unscrupulous religious leaders.
They believe that the heavy penalties will deter religious leaders from engaging in fraudulent practices. However, some have expressed concerns about the potential for misuse of the law to target genuine religious leaders who may be falsely accused.
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