Two factions have emerged in the Kenya Kwanza Administration over plans by the country’s security agencies to crack down on religious institutions radicalizing their followers in the name of spreading the gospel.
According to sources within the government, top political leaders in the new administration are split with one faction against the move saying such action amounts waging war on the Christian faith and will lead to a blanket condemnation of religious leaders in the country.
The group, affiliated with the spouses of the President and the Deputy President insists Kenya Kwanza thrust to power through the Christian vote and it is the administration’s sole responsibility to ensure the country’s religious leaders are not persecuted.
The other camp, under the Interior CS Kithure Kindiki however is adamant the only way to avoid any similar mass killings in the name of religious indoctrination is to weed out rogue pastors and close down their churches, which sadly, some prominent leaders in government are a part of.
On Friday, the government transferred senior security officials from Kilifi in the wake of the discovery of dozens of bodies buried in Shakahola forest that has been linked to controversial televangelist Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International Church.
The cult leader Mackenzie has been accused of driving his followers to death by preaching that starvation was the only path to God with the numbers currently standing at 109 after exhumation was suspended Friday due to heavy rains.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki made the announcement Friday during his second visit to Shakahola located in coastal town of Malindi that the changes will affect top agents from all departments ranging from the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the national Intelligence Service.
