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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now says the government is only interested in weeding out rogue religious groups and will not in any way hurt or interfere with the operation of churches in the ongoing purge of cult sects in the country.

Gachagua, who defended the church as a crucial pillar in society, insisted that the happenings at Shakahola forest in Kilifi County should not be taken as an activity that happens in all religious institutions.

The DP noted that the constitution, Under Article 32, guarantees religious freedom including the freedom to practice any religion or belief through worship, teaching, or observance, and to debate religious questions and as such, the government is not on a mission to interfere with the liberty.

Speaking at Full Gospel Church in Matangi area Juja during a requiem mass for the late John Ndung’u, father to Juja Member of Parliament (MP) George Koimburi, the DP upheld that rogue clerics must and will be weeded out from the public to protect gullible Kenyans from exploitation and being brainwashed.

The second in command made the statement at a time that Kenyans and leaders sustain calls for regulation of churches after it emerged that some have been engaging in all manner of unacceptable practices.

“What happened in Kilifi is isolated to some individuals and not the entire church. Churches have enemies who want to injure their name using the small thing that happened there. We are saying that rogue clerics be removed from the church so as to operate the crucial institutions better,” Gachagua said.

“The church is a reflection of the society and as such, we have a few people who do the wrong things and who should be isolated and action taken against them. 99.9 per cent of our pastors are good people, allowing the government to weed out the few individuals,” he added.

He made the statement days after Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki called for tougher measures to regulate religious activities in the country going forward, including self-regulation of the organizations.

This happened even as the process of forming a law to regulate religious activities in the country began after the Senate last month formed an Ad-hoc committee to propose laws aimed at bringing sanity to religious institutions.

The Senate took issue with how leaders of religious institutions have been taking advantage of gullible Kenyans, especially children with the latest incident being in Shakahola where over 100 deaths were recorded.

In a motion moved by Majority Whip and Kakemega Senator Bonny Khalwale, the Senate mandated the 11-member committee to investigate circumstances leading to the death of followers of the Good News International Church.

Gachagua on illicit drugs

On matters of eradication of illicit brews and second-generation liquor claimed to have been stupefying the youth rendering them unproductive, Gachagua revealed that chiefs who display vigour and commitment in the fight against the drinks will be rewarded.

He insisted that the government will not relent in the fight he said has destroyed the lives of thousands besides leading to family breakups.