In Kenya, where there are more churches per square kilometre than factories and schools, pocketing millions every week, churches must be treated as industries.  

There must be order in religion. Do we have a sane church in Kenya, or are they money-making schemes? ‘Giving unto Caesar’ should not be selective! Unregistered churches, coercion and manipulation in religious organisations must face the law.  

The church is not bigger than the laws of Kenya, and in this, they must shape up or ship out. The exploitative activities of religious organisations must be stopped.

Regulating religious institutions in Kenya is a step in the right direction. Protecting public safety remains very important in times when the Shakahola massacre highlighted the dangers of unchecked religious extremism.  

Closer oversight of churches could prevent radicalisation, cult-like behaviour, and abuse within religious organisations.  

In the Shakahola deaths, a report recommended the regulation of religious organisations and institutions.  

Lives would not have been lost if the church had been regulated. Some religious groups have been accused of financial exploitation, misleading followers, or engaging in harmful practices.  

Regulations ensure transparency in financial dealings and prevent fraudulent activities.

If churches want to get involved in our Judiciary and government policy, then it’s only fair that they start paying taxes for this privilege.  

Churches are not above the law, and moreover, Kenya is a secular state as identified in Article 8 of the Constitution, meaning that there is no official state religion.  

The article explicitly states that there shall be no state religion, ensuring that the government does not favour or impose any particular faith.  

Regulation of Kenya’s religious institutions would represent progress and a step in the right direction.

Ensuring accountability means registering and meeting ethical and religious standards.

This prevents individuals from using religion as a cover for illegal activities.  

While Kenya upholds freedom of worship, regulations ensure that religious institutions operate responsibly and ethically.  

We need to protect citizens while respecting religious diversity.

Religious leaders who continue to perform fake miracles and healings and extort Kenyans should be guilty of an offence.  

Preventing religious exploitation by enforcing penalties for fraud, false miracles, and coercive practices is needed.  

The church and its commercial operations must be stopped. The church’s role in governance issues has also been weakened when it continues to side with the oppressor and not the public interest.

Transparency in religious organisations is needed. Churches collect millions from congregants and platforms.  

Even Jesus paid taxes! In Matthew 17:24-27, there’s a story where tax collectors ask Peter if Jesus pays the temple tax.  

Jesus tells Peter to catch a fish, and inside its mouth, Peter finds a coin that covers both Jesus’ and Peter’s tax payments.  

In another instance, when asked about Roman taxes, Jesus famously said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:15-22).  

For generations, some churches regulated what women could wear to the altar and whether they could divorce, excommunicated single mothers, and insisted on purity.

Now, why are they afraid of a little regulation by the government? Do they have anything to hide?

While churches have failed to self-regulate, the government must step in and regulate them.  

We have seen how religious leaders continue to take advantage of gullible citizens by opening a church to get rich.  

The clergy have continued to sanitise this government. Now it’s their turn – they must be accountable to Kenyans.  

Stealing in the name of the lord must be stopped. Selling hope to the poor, money laundering and cultism must be stopped.   

The Religious Organisations Bill should be reintroduced in Parliament to be debated and adopted.  

The writer is a Young Christian in Nairobi