We Never Anticipated We’d Face Persecution From Politicians We Supported, Church Leaders Lament

• Pentecostal Voice of Kenya (PVK) raised concerns over the proposed Religious Organisations Bill 2024, citing threats to freedom of worship
• PVK chairperson Apostle Peter Manyuru highlighted Clause 34, which criminalises preaching and converting new followers with penalties of up to KSh 10 million
• Manyuru expressed regret that politicians who previously opposed regulating the church are now supporting this bill
• He recalled that the church's support for President William Ruto's candidacy in 2022 was based on promises to protect religious freedoms, which now seem compromised

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - Pentecostal Voice of Kenya has raised concerns regarding the proposed Religious Organisations Bill 2024.

During a press briefing on Monday, September 23, PVK leaders highlighted several regressive clauses, arguing they might threaten freedom of worship.

Apostle Peter Manyuru, the PVK chairperson, singled out sections of the bill that he termed an attack on the church.

"Clause 34 criminalises preaching of the gospel and making new converts by imposing penalties of up to KSh 10 million or imprisonment of up to five years or both," Manyuru stated.

What is Manyuru's regret?

The clergyman recounted how most politicians allied to the current regime opposed a proposal by now-opposition members to regulate church activities.

Manyuru stated that their decision to stand with them before the 2022 General Election swayed them to support President William Ruto's candidacy.

He observed that it was ironic that those who supported the church were the originators of the bill that he said was a persecution of the church.

"It is important to remember before the 2022 General Election, a well known politician proposed that the government should regulate the church; that was before elections. Ironically, the same politicians who are now leading the charge for this oppressive Bill previously opposed such regulations, and we, as a church, supported them, believing they would always defend our rights. We never anticipated that we would face persecution from the very politicians we encouraged our congregants to support," he added.

NCCK warns clergy

Ahead of the 2022 polls, NCCK cautioned the church leadership to desist from converting their pulpits into political arenas.

The body encouraged the men of the cloth to preach peace on the pulpit during the electioneering period.

Through their Migori County Chairperson, Rev Joshua Abulo, the religious body warned the men of God to practice politics with caution.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Pentecostal Voice of Kenya (PVK) chairperson Apostle Peter Manyuru.

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