Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has reiterated that the government will not spare anyone found guilty of using religion to manipulate Kenyans in the crackdown on rogue preachers.

This he remarked on Sunday during a thanksgiving ceremony at Victory Revival church in Tharaka Nithi county, where he warned that there is no place for evil religious teachers who use religion as a lure to harm naive Kenyans. He warned that the government would fiercely fight anyone who uses religion to harm Kenyans.

PHOTO | COURTESY Kithure Kindiki

The CS added that All those people hiding in churches to steal and hurt people using the bible would be pursued like we pursued bandits until Kenyans receive justice.

This comes on the heels of President William Ruto's instruction to form a 17-member task team to study the legislative and regulatory structures that regulate religious organizations in Kenya.

President Ruto declared in a gazette notice dated May 5 that Reverend Mutava Musyimi would chair the committee, which will be operative for the next six months.

The latter was spurred by the discovery of the disturbing Shakahola starving cult, which resulted in 253 deaths as of Sunday.

PHOTO | COURTESY Kithure Kindiki

The government is collaborating with security forces and relevant authorities to investigate the murders of followers of notorious self-proclaimed pastor Paul Mackenzie and his Good News International Church in Kilifi County, as well as allegations of torture and cruel treatment. 

According to CS Kindiki, the search for survivors and the bodies of those who died in the starvation cult will continue to the neighbouring Tsavo East National Park as autopsies on the recovered bodies begin.