Gov’t Should Borrow A Leaf From ‘Devil Worship Report’ In Regulating Churches

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• After completion of its work, the inquiry which was led by Nyeri Catholic Bishop Nicodemus Kirima submitted its report to then Minister of Internal Security Julius Sunkuli in 1999.
• A few days and as the law required, Sunkuli tabled this to parliament. This is the last time Kenyans would hear about this report.
• It was never implemented. Just like other reports that seemed to rub some members of the ruling elites and political class the wrong way, this one was also put in a government’s shelf to gather dust.
• During the respective tenures, President Mwai Kibaki and President Uhuru Kenyatta turned deaf to Bishop Kirima report.

In late 90s, then President Daniel Arap Moi formed a commission of Inquiry to probe increasing cases of devil worshiping particularly in Secondary Schools and colleges.

This came in the wake of students unrest that saw many schools razed down and a number of students perishing  in these infernos and others died under unclear circumstances.

Besides, there were incidences of pupils passing out after allegedly getting possessed by powers of satan and it took the interventions of religious leaders to exorcised the demons, restore order and sanity.

Incidences of violent attacks among members of the public and sibling rivalry were also on the rise.

In most cases, this would result in deaths, maiming and life-threatening injuries to people who had initially enjoyed peaceful coexistence.

Notably, this coincided with sprouting of hundreds of the evangelical churches. A number of them had been registered by individuals who had fallen out with the mainstream churches and some had been excommunicated.

Those running them would give themselves the titles of apostles.

Consequently, they earned the tag of briefcase churches. Up to date, most of them passes out as family outfits.

They would run by three members-the apostle, his wife and his sons/daughters.

The latter two would be in charge of crucial dockets of finances and administration.

Shockingly, most of the people involved in macabre crimes happened to be their members.

The Moi government at the time appeared overwhelmed by the speed in which these cult-like churches were established.

The provisions of law were also weak and not clear on how to regulate them.

Many believed this is what had informed President Moi to set up the commission of inquiry.

After completion of its work, the inquiry which was led by Nyeri Catholic Bishop Nicodemus Kirima submitted its report to then Minister of Internal Security Julius Sunkuli in 1999.

A few days and as the law required, Sunkuli tabled this to parliament.

This is the last time Kenyans would hear about this report.

It was never implemented. Just like other reports that seemed to rub some  members of the ruling elites and political class the wrong way, this one was also put in a government’s shelf to gather dust.

During the respective tenures, President Mwai Kibaki and President Uhuru Kenyatta turned deaf to Bishop Kirima report.

For now, this problem of religious radicalization and extreme teachings has returned to haunt the current administration of President William.

As I write this, Kenyans are yet to come to terms with mass deaths of gullible followers who had been lured to join cults started and run by two renowned and flamboyant pastors Paul Mackenzie and Ezekiel Odero.

More than 110 bodies have been exhumed from the scene of Shakahola cult massacre in Kilifi.

Reports indicate most of the victims died as a starvation.

The doctrine of Pastor Mackenzie, who runs this cult, was rooted in preaching to them to starve to death so that they can meet Jesus. This happened as himself eat and drink in their presence. Mackenzie was reportedly mercilessly with those, who had joined the cult, who failed to his call and wanted to quit. They were allegedly immediately eliminated and also buried in shallow graves.

Some of the victims were buried in the same graves. In one of grave, a woman and three children believed to be hers were exhumed. They had been piled on each other.

In another one, seven bodies were retrieved.

After Mackenzie was arrested, it did not take long before Pastor Ezekiel Odero was apprehended.

Preliminary investigations showed that the two were birds of the same feathers.

Whenever Mackenzie fell in trouble with the authorities, Ezekiel always stepped in to help a fellow cult leader.

He had been arraigned three times and was always set free under unclear circumstances.

At one point, the court concurred with Kenya Film Board and ordered closure of his (Mackenzie) Television station.

This is because it was airing misleading content that contradicted the Biblical teachings.

There was buyer on standby. Ezekiel bought the TV station plus a fleet of his vehicles.

According to the media reports, pastor Ezekiel at one point stated that he had built a mortuary and cemetery.

But as it turned out, he had brainwashed his gullible followers to an extent that they did not understand the message he was sending across.

The detectives believe that he had been taking the bodies of his victims to this Morgue and later buried them. No record relating to their deaths would be available.

I totally concur with President William Ruto who called out and likened these pastors to terrorists. He said their place is in jail.

What we are seeing today is the danger of ignoring and postponing a problem.

In my considered view, these deaths could have been avoided if ‘Devil Worship Report’ was implemented to the letter and spirit.

This is the time to regulate the churches.

Let us not lose sight of that report.

It offers good lessons on how the problem of religious radicalization can be nipped in the bud.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi