Suspected Kilifi cult leader Paul Mackenzie (right) and his accomplices at Shanzu Law Court in Mombasa County on July 10, 2024.
Members of the defunct presidential task force that President William Ruto established to recommend measures to reform religious institutions are still chasing their pay almost a year since they handed in their report.
The taskforce, chaired by former Mbeere North MP Rev Mutava Musyimi, was established through a gazette notice of May 5, 2023, in the wake of the heart-wrenching discovery of mass graves within Shakahola forest, Kilifi County, linked to a religious cult organization.
The mass graves contained bodies of followers of Pastor Paul Mackenzie, the self-proclaimed preacher of Good News International Church, who authorities say indoctrinated his victims to death.
With this shock discovery, President Ruto established the task force to review the legal and regulatory framework governing religious organizations.
On July 30, 2024, the Rev Musyimi-led 15-member team handed in its report to the president at State house recommending appropriate policy framework and guidelines on self-regulation and government oversight.
However, since concluding their work, the members of the task force are yet to be paid their dues.
While some of the members were uncomfortable talking about their delayed pay, those we spoke to on condition of anonymity, say that it is a painful experience chasing the dues.
Although Rev Musyimi did not address the delayed payment issue, he said he and his colleagues wished that the report is implemented.
“It would be a dereliction of duty if the report is not implemented. For me, as an elder in the society, my prayer is to see our recommendations acted upon by the government,” said Rev Musyimi.
“We do not want to see another Shakahola,” said Rev Musyimi, the former Secretary-General of the National Council of the Churches of Kenya (NCCK).
But even as Rev Musyimi steered clear of the matter, some members of the defunct task force confirmed that they are yet to be paid by the government for work done.
“We did the job and handed in our report to the president at the State House in broad daylight for action. While the report has not been implemented, they have also not paid us,” a member of the task force who did not want to be quoted said.
The Shakahola forest killings were discovered in early 2023 and towards the end of last year, over 400 bodies had been exhumed from the shallow graves with more than 600 others reported missing.
Other than Rev Musyimi, the other members of the task force were Bishop Mark Kariuki, Bishop Dr Eli Rop, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia, Judy Thongori (now deceased), Rev Dr Alphonse Kanga and Bishop Philip Kitoto.
The others were Dr Faridun Abdalla, Prof Musili Wambua, Mr Joseph Khalende Wabwire, Ms Mary Kitegi, lawyer Charles Kanjama, Ms Leah Kasera, Ms Nancy Murega and Mr Wilson Wanyanga.
Mr Martin Talian and Ms Maria Nyariki served as joint secretaries of the task force.
The daily allowance for members of a task force and remuneration of commissions of inquiry, tribunals, boards and committees appointed by the government is guided by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) circular of April 16, 2014.
In the circular, SRC remunerates task force members appointed from the public service and private sector differently with the latter’s members getting a higher premium.
For instance, a chairperson, members, secretarial staff and driver and support staff from the public service are paid Sh5,000, Sh4,000, Sh2,000 and Sh1,000 respectively in daily allowances.
The daily compensation to members from the private sector is as follows; chairperson Sh15,000, vice chairperson Sh12,000, member Sh10,000, joint secretary and assisting counsel Sh10,000, researcher, legal assistant, administrative officer, coordinator and head of security Sh4,000.
The others include accountant and supplies officer Sh3,000, data analyst and investigator Sh3,000, interpreter, recorder, transcriber, accounts clerk, supplies assistant and secretary Sh2,500, driver and constable Sh2,000, support staff, messenger and usher Sh1,800.
The Chief of Staff at the Office of the President and Head of Public Service (HoPS) Felix Koskei did not respond to our inquiries sent to his known phone number as to why the payment has been delayed and when it will be made.
The task force was formed conscious that the Shakahola tragedy brought to the fore the existence of religious extremist organizations, sects, cults, and similar outfits in Kenya that have occasioned death or serious harm to Kenyans.
The terms and references of the task force included to identify the legal, institutional and governance challenges or gaps that have allowed religious extremist organizations, sects, cults, and other similar outfits to engage in practices detrimental to individual health and safety, the public interest, or our national values.
The task force was also required to formulate proposals on the legal, institutional, and governance changes required to prevent religious extremist organizations, sects, cults, and other similar outfits in Kenya from committing or fostering actions that are detrimental to individual health and safety, the public interest, or to national values.
In its report, the task force recommended formulation of an appropriate policy framework and guidelines on self-regulation and government oversight to ensure transparency and responsible practices by religious organizations.
The report noted that Kenya has a history of religious extremism which has resulted in the loss of lives and that the existing legal framework has gaps and does not adequately address religious extremism in the country.
“There is a need to undertake policy, legal, institutional and administrative reforms to ensure that the exercise of the freedoms of religion and association is not used in a manner that is detrimental to individual health and safety, the public interest and national values,” the taskforce noted.
This came after the taskforce established that there was no existing policy framework for the religious sector and that rogue religious formations had been having a field day capturing innocent Kenyans including children and turning them into mental slaves.
The existing legal framework, the taskforce noted, does not adequately address religious extremism, sects, cults and other similar outfits that engage in practices detrimental to individual health and safety, public interest and national values.
This task force proposed the draft Religious Organizations Bill 2024 whose enactment I said, will help “assign a legal personality to the organizations” that includes laying down registration requirements and provides for offences “committed under the pretext of religion.”
“The existing regulatory framework, primarily governed by the Societies Act, is inadequate and does not address the unique character of the religious sector,” says the report.
The taskforce also recommended that all religious institutions including churches, sects and denominations be registered afresh under a strict vetting regime in a draft Bill that was presented to President Ruto.
