Churches Reject Government Plans to Tax Offerings

A section of clerics have rejected plans by the government to tax offerings following the release of a report by a taskforce set up by President William Ruto to investigate activities of rogue preachers and cultism.

Key Takeaways

• Taskforce Report: A taskforce led by Mutava Musyimi recommended regulating churches and taxing offerings, sparking controversy.
• Clerics’ Opposition: Pentecostal clerics argue that churches can self-regulate without government interference.
• Freedom of Worship: Clerics claim the report threatens religious freedom and unfairly targets innocent preachers.
• Legal Action: Clerics, led by Hudson Ndeda, warn they will go to court to block the report’s implementation.

Clerics’ Stand Against Taskforce Report

The taskforce report has sparked significant backlash among clerics, particularly those from Pentecostal churches, who feel targeted by its recommendations. Hudson Ndeda, the national chairman of the Church and Clergy Association of Kenya (CCAK), claims that the government is using the Shakahola massacre as an excuse to tax churches and punish innocent religious leaders. According to Ndeda, the report’s recommendations are an assault on Kenyans’ freedom of worship, which is protected under the constitution.

Clerics Argue for Self-Regulation

Many clerics argue that churches are already regulated and that additional government control is unnecessary. Ndeda emphasized that churches should be allowed to regulate themselves through umbrella bodies, with guidance from the registrar of societies. He also criticized the recommendation that preachers should have diplomas and degrees, arguing that such qualifications are not necessary for spiritual leadership.

Threat of Legal Action

Ndeda has warned that the CCAK will take legal action to stop the implementation of the taskforce report. He believes that the proposed regulations are discriminatory and unfairly lump well-meaning pastors with those engaging in illegal activities. Bishop Zacharia Karanja echoed these sentiments, stating that religious leaders should be accountable only to God, not to government regulations that could stifle their work.