Musyimi task force report gathers dust in State House filing cabinets

Reverend Mutava Musyimi. He chaired the 14-member task force. [File, Standard]

In one of the cabinets at State House where President William Ruto keeps his files lies the report of a task force he appointed to review laws governing churches.

The task force report has been gathering dust for the last three months.

Reverend Mutava Musyimi, who chaired the 14-member task force, told The Standard that his team completed their work at the end of February and submitted the report to the office of the President.

“We finished our work and gave it to the team we were working with from the government and handed it over to State House,” said Musyimi.

The task force was appointed on May 4, 2023, following the Shakahola massacre linked to Paul Nthenge Makenzi of Good News International Ministries.

The first cases of bodies that were discovered buried in shallow graves in Shakahola forest hit news headlines on March 25, 2023.

It emerged that the victims had been told by Makenzi to starve themselves to death to meet their saviour, Jesus Christ. Children were to die first, followed by women and then the men, with Makenzi himself set to ascend to heaven last.

“I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, do appoint a presidential task force on the review of the legal and regulatory framework governing religious organisations in Kenya,” read the gazette notice.

Members of the task force included Bishop Mark Kariuki, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia, Mary Kitegi, Bishop Philip Kitoto, and lawyers Charles Kanjama and Judy Thongori. Others were Dr Alphonse Kanga, Prof Musili Wambua, Joseph Wabwire, Leah Kasera, Nancy Murega, Faridun Abdalla, and Wilson Wanyanga.

The task force’s joint secretaries were Goretti Nyariki and Martin Ndiwa. They held their first public participation forums in Kilifi County on June 13, 2023.

Ruto’s decision to appoint a task force came after an outcry from a section of Kenyans following the massacre.

However, Pentecostal groups faulted the appointment, urging the President to revoke the task force, stating they would regulate themselves.

The Head of State also appointed a commission of inquiry into cult-like massacres, chaired by Court of Appeal judge Jessie Lessit.

Its members were Mary Kasango, Frank Njenga, Eric Ngumbi, Bishop Catherine Mutua, Jonathan Lodompui, Wanyama Musiambu, and Albert Musasia. Kipchumba Karori and Rachel Maina were its joint secretaries, with Kioko Kilikumi serving as the lead counsel, assisted by Vivian Nyambeki and Bahati Mwamuye.

Phase five of the exhumation of bodies in the Shakahola forest and the vast Chakama ranch is ongoing, with the total number of bodies exhumed so far reaching 450.

Civil Society groups across the country faulted the authorities for failing to take necessary action against Mackenzie and the Church.

Mackenzie founded Good News in 2003 and officially registered the Church in 2010.

Two years later, he registered a Good News Media Limited (Times TV), and also operated a YouTube channel to broadcast his messages.

Mackenzie was arrested and charged with radicalisation in 2017 but was later freed. The preacher and 29 others are currently facing 12 murder charges at the Malindi High Court, accused of murdering 191 children inside the forest in Kilifi County.