By Court News Reporter
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has launched a scathing attack on the proposed Religious Organisations Bill 2024, accusing the government of using it as a tool to intimidate, control, and weaken the Church in Kenya.
Speaking on Monday, the outspoken legislator dismissed the Bill as a state-sponsored attempt to undermine faith-based institutions, warning that its passage would erode the Church’s independence and moral authority.
“An Attempt to Finish the Church”
Babu Owino claimed the Bill, which seeks to regulate the activities of religious organisations, is not about accountability but a direct assault on religious freedom.
“I want to condemn the Bill that is being prepared by the Executive, a Bill that is interfering with the independence of the churches in this nation,” he said.
He described the proposal as “gibberish and retrogressive”, arguing that no government should dictate how churches operate or what pastors preach.
“The Church does not exist at the pleasure of any government. The Church exists by divine calling to speak the truth, even when that truth is uncomfortable,” Babu stated.
Freedom of Worship Under Threat
The MP warned that the Bill could lead Kenya toward a dictatorship, saying it aims to limit sermons and control religious discourse.
He reminded the government that freedom of worship is enshrined in the Constitution, and the Church must remain free to hold leaders accountable.
“The government has its place: to make laws, to protect citizens, and to serve the nation. The Church has its place: to nurture souls, to defend moral values, and to remind us that power without justice is tyranny,” he said.
Bill Provisions Stir Controversy
According to the Religious Organisations Bill 2024, faith-based institutions will be barred from engaging in political activities, such as supporting candidates or hosting political debates.
The government maintains the law will promote neutrality and prevent the exploitation of religion for political purposes.
However, critics — including church leaders and MPs like Babu Owino — argue that the Bill is a thinly veiled attempt to silence the Church and restrict its role in shaping Kenya’s moral and political direction.
“When you silence the Church, you silence the voice of reason. The Church must remain free to speak truth to power,” Babu warned.
Call to Action
The Embakasi East MP urged Christians to resist attempts to weaken the Church, emphasizing that Kenya’s moral compass is grounded in faith.
He said political authority is temporary, but spiritual leadership is eternal:
“We respect our leaders and pray for them. But we will not allow them to use the law to intimidate God’s people.”
Babu concluded by urging the government to focus on corruption, unemployment, and inequality instead of targeting religious bodies.
Public Opposition Mounts
The Religious Organisations Bill 2024 has sparked widespread resistance from church leaders, civil society, and sections of the public, who see it as a threat to freedom of worship.
Babu Owino’s strong opposition now adds political weight to the growing calls for the government to withdraw or amend the legislation before it reaches Parliament.