By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, December 16 2025 - Religious leaders in Kiambu County have escalated their opposition to the proposed Kenya Religious Regulation Bill of 2024, warning that the draft law poses a serious threat to the constitutional independence of churches and could open the door to State control of religious institutions.
Addressing the media in Ruiru town, clergy drawn from the Pentecostal and Evangelical Alliance, led by Bishop Stephen Ndichu, said the Bill was unconstitutional and should be withdrawn in its entirety.
“This Bill is invalid and unconstitutional. It will not see the light of day because we are ready to challenge it fully,” Bishop Ndichu said, adding that the clergy had already moved to court to stop Parliament from debating or passing the legislation.
According to the religious leaders, the matter is now before the courts, and any attempt by lawmakers to proceed with the Bill before the case is heard and determined would amount to contempt of court.
The clergy accused the government of seeking to exert undue influence over churches by proposing the formation of a regulatory commission whose leadership would be appointed by the State. Such a move, they argued, would effectively turn the religious sector into a parastatal.
“The government wants to decide which churches should be registered and which should not. That is a direct violation of Article 8 of the Constitution, which clearly separates the State from religion,” Bishop Ndichu said.
While acknowledging the need to address cases of abuse or criminal conduct within religious institutions, the leaders insisted that existing laws are sufficient to deal with such matters.
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“If a clergyperson commits a crime, let them be arrested and taken to court like any other Kenyan,” Ndichu said. “Do not punish the entire church because of the actions of a few individuals.”
Beyond the proposed legislation, the clergy also turned their attention to the growing entanglement of religion and politics, saying churches had increasingly been used as campaign platforms by politicians.
They resolved that politicians attending worship services should do so strictly as congregants, without special recognition or preferential seating.
Any donations made during services, they said, should not be publicly announced or turned into political fundraising events. The leaders further agreed that politicians should be barred from addressing congregants from church pulpits, saying political messages should be delivered outside places of worship.
The Kiambu clergy said they would continue mobilizing religious communities across the country to resist the Bill, warning that its passage would undermine religious freedom and set a dangerous precedent for State interference in faith affairs.
