State seeks to deregister churches run by Makenzi and Odero

He said there were attempts to change the name of the church and officials at the registrar's office which were unsuccessful.

The AG revealed that the New Life Prayer Centre led by Pastor Ezekiel Odero has not filed returns and has also been sent a show-cause letter on why it should not be deregistered.

He assured that his office was working to ensure the law was adhered to in the operation of all religious organisations.

Muturi, who appeared before the Senate Ad hoc committee investigating the proliferation of religious organisations in the country and the deaths in Shakahola said the government has taken action to ensure religious entities that do not meet requirements are deregistered.

The AG told the committee chaired by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana that there was no duplication of roles in the work of the Commission of Inquiry into Shakahola deaths, the taskforce to review the legal and regulatory framework of religious organisations, the police and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DCI).

"I would like to inform this committee that there is no duplication of roles in the operations of the commission of inquiry on Shakahola, taskforce to review religious organisations, the police and the DCI since they each have a specific role to perform," he said.

He noted that the government in 2014 put a moratorium on the registration of religious organisations with his predecessor Githu Muigai coming up with proposals to regulate them that did not see light of the day. Muturi exonerated his office of any wrongdoing saying they currently have a presence in 14 regions.

Mungatana urged the AG's office to flag religious organisations breaking the law, noting that most of the 40,000 registered entities were not filing returns. The country has 100,000 registered societies.