Kenya Religious Leaders Press Statement

1.      Preamble

We the religious leaders of Kenya have met here at Ufungamano.  House to consult on events that have occurred in our nation over the last few days leading to the scheduled meeting with the Attorney General today. We were especially concerned about matters that touch on the exercise of religious freedom in our country.

 2.       Proposed Meeting at the Attorney General’s Chambers

In the middle of this week, we received an invitation from the office of the Attorney General to attend a meeting in his chambers to consult on the proposed regulation of religious institutions. Upon arrival at the Attorney General’s chambers this morning, we were informed that the meeting had been moved to Kenyatta International Convention Center, at which venue we found a large hall had been secured complete with media ready for live transmission.

We therefore chose not to participate in that forum because:

One, we do not wish to participate in a public baraza that is set to discuss matters about which we have not been informed in advance

Two, leaders of religious institutions have a mandate and responsibility to consult with their internal organs and therefore will not accept to be pushed to take a position on an issue prior to such consultations

Three, there was a strong sense of deception by the Attorney General in the sense of the change of meeting parameters without informing us.

Whereas we affirm that we are not opposed to such consultations, these must be structures and cannot be in the context of public barazas.

 3.      Exercise of Religious Freedom in Kenya

In the meantime, we wish to inform the government that there is no crisis in the country that warrants putting the nation in a panic. What happened at Salvation and Healing Ministries is a single case that does not warrant generalization to all religious institutions. If a single person has broken the law, let them be accorded all their rights as they are dealt with according to the law.

We further note that all religious institutions are currently registered under the Societies Act and if any of them has breached the tenets of that registration, the due process should be followed. It is very unfair and illogical of the government to attempt to control and muzzle all religious institutions by introducing new regulations that are not in line with the law.

 4.      Conclusion

We conclude by urging all Kenyans to remain calm and uphold the dignity of the religion they hold dear.