Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairperson Johnson Muthama has urged the church to support government’s initiative to vet the religious institutions to ensure that the country is free from radicalization.
Mr Muthama who is now a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission says the move taken by President William Ruto to form a taskforce to look into operation of churches within shouldn’t be interpreted as curtaining the of worship but one that is aimed at sanitizing the environment following the Shakahola massacre.
“I would also like to call church leaders to cooperate with the government in vetting exercise to get rid of radicalization as witnessed in certain churches and by so doing, it would create a safe and secure environment within our religious institutions,” said Mr Muthama while in Tala, Machakos County.
According to the former Machakos Senator, the clergy collaborating with the government will help to weed out extremism in the places of worship.
“Cooperation between religious organizations and the government will help identify any potential threats or extremism early hence ensuring the well-being and safety of the congregation and the society as a whole,” he said.
He added: “Let Kenyans be vigilant about the churches they worship in and put more emphasis on the Bible when it comes to spiritual matters.”
Mr Muthama’s comment comes at the backdrop of increasing numbers of those being exhumed in Shakahola forest.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki on Thursday said five human skeletons were found in the land linked to Kilifi cult leader Paul Mackenzie.
Early this month, President Ruto appointed a Taskforce to review the legal and regulatory framework governing religious organizations.
