Saturday, December
13, 2025 - Members of the Pentecostal Voices of Kenya (PVK) have launched a
scathing attack against President William Ruto’s administration over the
proposed Religious Organisations Amendment Bill 2024.
Speaking during a media interview on December 13th, 2025, PVK leaders claimed that the bill is a deliberate attempt to muzzle the church and restrict constitutional freedoms and demanded that the Bill, currently being drafted, be scrapped in its entirety.
PVK Secretary General Habil Olembo accused the Government of vilifying the church, saying, “They have opted to arbitrarily enact draconian bills and regulations that trample on the freedom of worship and muzzle the church.”
PVK Chairperson Peter Manyuru added that the Government was
expending too much energy on curtailing religious institutions instead of
addressing pressing national challenges.
“If you can use the same force and energy that you are using to
curtail the church in solving the problems of Kenyans, I want to say that Kenya
would be very far,” he said.
The clergy argue that the Bill threatens their
constitutional right to worship and introduces vague offences that could be
used to harass religious leaders.
They further claim that the church was excluded from
consultations during the drafting process, despite being a key stakeholder.
The Religious Organisations Amendment Bill was first
sponsored in 2024 by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana but withdrawn after
public outcry.
The Government is now working on a new draft policy based on
recommendations from the Presidential Task Force formed after the Shakahola
massacre.
The proposed law seeks to establish an Advisory Board under
the Office of the Attorney General, appoint a Registrar of Religious
Organisations, and enforce governance structures.
It also prohibits religious institutions from engaging in
political activities.
PVK leaders insist the Bill undermines the church’s role as
a societal watchdog and vowed to resist its implementation.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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