Kenya: Karua Seeks Law to Regulate Churches

Nairobi, Kenya - Constitutional affairs minister Ms Martha Karua has proposed a bill to regulate the operations and practices of religious organisations.

Speaking at Shimo La Tewa secondary School during the Pentecostal Church of East Africa General Assembly, Ms Karua told parish delegates from East Africa that it was necessary to regulate the operations of some religious bodies.

She said some of the mushrooming organisations were taking advantage of generous believers.

"Churches must be accountable since some of them have been commercialised," she said.

Ms Karua was supported by Kabete MP Paul Muite who said the law was long overdue and that the public must be protected from conmen and women purporting to be priests.

The Kenya Episcopal Conference secretary Fr Vincent Wambugu said the Catholic church would wait to see what regulation meant. But he agreed with concerns raised about some churches.