AD HOC COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE PROLIFERATION OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CIRC…

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27 Apr 2023 Moved by Khalwale Boni Seconded by Stewart Mwachiru Shadrack Madzayo Senate 13th Passed/Adopted

Motion text

AD HOC COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE PROLIFERATION OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE DEATHS OF MORE THAN 95 PEOPLE IN SHAKAHOLA, KILIFI COUNTY THAT, AWARE THAT under the Bill of Rights, the Constitution of Kenya grants every person the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion, and that every Kenyan has the right to manifest any religion or belief through worship, practice, teaching or observance, including observance of a day of worship; FURTHER AWARE THAT, new religious groups, institutions, or places of worship, and faith-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) must register with the Registrar of Societies, which reports to the Attorney General’s Office, yet indigenous and traditional religious groups are not required to register; COGNIZANT THAT, there has been increased activity and membership in extremist occult religious organizations in the country; CONCERNED THAT, the current recorded death toll of an apparent occultist religious group led by one Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, in Shakahola Village, Kilifi County has reached 95 persons, while the search for more buried victims continues; NOW THEREFORE in exercise of its oversight function, the Senate resolves to establish an Ad Hoc committee to – i.) investigate the circumstances leading to the death of the followers of the Good News International Church led by one Paul Mackenzie Nthenge in Shakahola Village, Kilifi County; ii.) investigate the role played by one Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International Church, his pastoral team, and the Kilifi County Security committee in aiding and abetting the deaths of the followers of the Good News International Church in Shakahola, Kilifi County; iii.) establish through the office of the Registrar of Societies, the number and activities of religious groups in the country including their registration and compliance status; iv.) audit the legal and registration framework for religious organizations in the country; v.) develop a legislative proposal on regulation of religious activities in the country; and, vi.) make any other recommendation that will prevent religious organizations from extreme indoctrination of their followers including radicalization, spiritual and financial exploitation. and submit a report to the House within 90 days; AND FURTHER THAT, the following Senators be appointed to serve in the committee – 1. Sen. (Rtd. Justice) Stewart Madzayo, CBS, MP; 2. Sen. Wakili Hillary Kiprotich Sigei, MP; 3. Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, MP; 4. Sen. Veronica Maina, MP; 5. Sen. William Kipkiror Cheptumo, CBS, MP; 6. Sen. Shakila Mohammed, MP; 7. Sen. David Wakoli, MP 8. Sen. Hamida Kibwana, MP; 9. Sen. Richard Onyonka, MP; 10. Sen. Eddy Oketch, MP; and 11. Sen. Abdul Haji, MP.

Tracker remarks

Adopted without amendments on Thursday 27.04.2023

Source: parliament.go.ke. Last updated 5 Jul 2026.