President William Ruto has declared that there will be no compromise or limitations on church activities in Kenya, even as the country grapples with the aftermath of the Shakahola tragedy. Speaking at AIC Milimani Church on October 6, Ruto firmly asserted that religious freedom, as enshrined in the Constitution, will be upheld without interference.
“Apart from what the Constitution of Kenya provides, we are a God-fearing nation, and we will equally defend our faith as Christians. I want to ask those with ideas to allow religious leaders themselves to develop how they want to regulate themselves,” Ruto said, emphasizing the autonomy of religious bodies in the country.
His comments come amid growing calls for tighter regulation of religious organizations following the discovery of mass graves linked to a deadly cult in Shakahola.
The leader of the Good News International Church, Paul Mackenzie, was arrested earlier this year after authorities exhumed over 400 bodies from the forest where his followers had allegedly starved themselves to death in a twisted bid to “meet Jesus.”
Despite the public outcry, Ruto made it clear that freedom of worship remains non-negotiable. “The religious body in Kenya will decide how they want to make sure freedom of worship in Kenya is protected,” he asserted. “There will be no compromise whatsoever, no limitation whatsoever on the freedom of worship in Kenya.”
The Shakahola horror, described as one of the worst cases of cult-related deaths in recent history, has left the country in shock. Survivors of the cult have recounted chilling tales of starvation, forced isolation, and a strict hierarchy where children were starved first, followed by adults, all following Mackenzie’s apocalyptic vision. Mackenzie, who reportedly told his followers they would get to heaven faster if they stopped eating, now faces charges ranging from manslaughter to terrorism and child abuse.
While a task force, formed in the wake of the Shakahola tragedy, recently recommended a hybrid regulatory framework to prevent such incidents in the future, President Ruto’s stance is clear: the government will not impose regulations on church activities.
The task force’s recommendations included the establishment of a Religious Affairs Commission led by Reverend Musyimi, which would provide oversight while working closely with religious associations. However, Ruto’s message is that religious leaders should be the ones to shape any form of regulation.
“We will make sure we do not compromise or limit our freedom of worship,” Ruto reiterated.
The Shakahola deaths reignited concerns about the lack of oversight on religious organizations, particularly those operating on the fringes. Mackenzie, who once ran a church in the coastal city of Malindi, is alleged to have urged his followers to abandon formal education, reject medical care, and prepare for the end of the world. His cult, which operated in secrecy in the remote forest of Shakahola, went unnoticed by authorities until it was too late.
Yet, despite the horrific details of the Shakahola case, Ruto’s focus remains on safeguarding religious freedoms. “I know there are proposals that have been made in regards to the regulation of activities in the church. I want to remind those pursuing this kind of exercise that the constitution is very explicit on the freedom of worship,” he said.
As Mackenzie awaits trial from his prison cell in Shimo la Tewa, the debate over how Kenya should balance religious freedom with public safety continues. But for now, Ruto’s message to Kenyans is unambiguous: the state will not interfere in matters of faith.
