NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 28 – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has revealed that he is under immense pressure to ease of his push to review the existing religious regulations aimed at shielding Kenyans from falling prey to exploitative religious leaders.
He singled out some religious leaders whom he says are trying to “insinuate that perhaps what the government is doing is interfering with right of the freedom of worship.”
Kindiki made the revelation Friday during his second visit to Shakahola forest where over 100 bodies of victims linked to the starvation cult led by controversial televangelist Paul Mackenzie have so far been recovered with the numbers expected to rise.
The Interior CS however maintained that he will not back down as he explained that governments all over the world are mandated to ensure the laws around the freedom of worship is adhered to.
“I want to tell them, it doesn’t matter whom you know, here in Kenya, out there in the world or even in the spiritual realm. We don’t care who you know, we will come for you. You are a murderer. We will come for you heavy and hard,” he said.
Kindiki stressed that no amount threats or distractions will stop him from protecting Kenyans “from the merchants of death from whatever faith.”
He warned that all those found culpable will be dealt with regardless of their status in society.
“It doesn’t matter whom they are associated with, who they know, the influence they have, the money they have, we will treat them the way we treat other murderers,” he said.
Kindiki’s statement comes at a time when the leader of Good news International Church Mackenzie and New Life Prayer Centre preacher Ezekiel Odero are in custody.
Odero was arrested Thursday in connection with the series of deaths at his church.
Coast Regional Commissioner Rhodah Onyancha told journalists that Pastor Odero was apprehended in Mavueni area on the allegations of the deaths that have been occurring at his premises and reported in various morgues and/or institutions.
Onyancha stated that the government has since shut down his prayer center.
“We are urging and giving information to the public that that prayer has been closed down and whoever was in there has been cleared out,” she said.
