Kenya's Evangelical Alliance opposes registration plan

Source: BBC

Kenya's evangelical churches have condemned government plans to make it tougher for religious bodies and clerics from all faiths to operate.

The move was aimed at stopping the growth of evangelical churches, said the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya.
But a leading Anglican cleric welcomed the proposals as an attempt to end the "commercialisation" of religion.
The proposals require all religious bodies to register, and for preachers to have police clearance.
All religious institutions would also be required to submit their statements of faith to a government-backed body for examination.


Christians form the majority in Kenya, while Muslims are the second-largest group.
Their main body, the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, was also opposed to the proposals, warning they could violate "freedom of worship and amount to a clampdown on religious institutions", the privately owned The Standard newspaper reports.
The Catholic Church - the largest Christian denomination in Kenya, and to which President Uhuru Kenyatta belongs - has not yet commented on the proposals.

The BBC's Muliro Telewa in the capital, Nairobi, says Attorney-General Githu Muigai unveiled the proposals last week, and would hold public consultations before drafting legislation.
Other proposals include:

• All preachers have to undergo theological training at a reputable seminary
• The Ethics and Anti-Corruption commission will have to certify that clergy are not corrupt and
• Foreign pastors will need a work permit, and a recommendation from their government

Our correspondent says the proposals seem to target self-proclaimed Christian prophets and faith healers whose influence is growing, as well as Muslim preachers who promote extremism in a country where militant Islamist group al-Shabab is active.