Kenyans have fallen victim to several harmful practices in religious spaces, a new report by the National Crime Research Center (NCRC) has revealed.
In the research report dated Monday, November 11, there are detrimental practices under the guise of religion that have been on the rise.
According to the report, which also highlights crime cases in the religious space, Kenyans are rejecting medicine and formal education and are increasingly involved in secret worship practices as they follow what they are being taught by religious leaders.
More Kenyans are also being involved in cult-like behaviours, distinctive dress codes, opposition to government programs, and the dissemination of radical teachings by their religious leaders.
The harmful practices within the various religious groups range from activities that constitute criminal offenses to those generally perceived as detrimental.
The report has revealed that religious leaders are taking advantage of believers seeking solutions to life's challenges. They then offer promises of prosperity, healing, or spiritual fulfilment to draw in vulnerable individuals, particularly those facing socioeconomic hardships.
They often present themselves as having unique solutions to problems that mainstream society or traditional religions have failed to address. This exploitation of vulnerability makes individuals more susceptible to manipulation and less likely to question the group's motives.
Some religious leaders in churches are using the Bible to divert the teachings and misinterpret them selectively using scriptures to justify practices like rejecting medical care or selling off personal belongings.
This misinterpretation of religious texts mislead followers into believing that harmful practices are divinely ordained. A perfect example is the teachings by Pastor Paul Mackenzie of the Shakahola massacre that left over 200 people dead.
They followed the pastor's teaching and starved to death believing they were heaven-bound. These practices are majorly witnessed in Kilifi, Nakuru, Kisumu, and Kwale Counties. The religious leaders and groups are more prevalent in rural areas and less common in towns.
The research also found that these leaders have a wider geographical reach, extending beyond the four named counties and even attracting followers from outside Kenya.
One may wonder, why are Kenyans falling prey to these practices. Well, the report has revealed that individuals who attempt to leave these groups often face significant consequences, including threats, social ostracization, or even physical harm.
The report mentions cases where former members of specific religious groups died under mysterious circumstances, raising concerns about potential retribution or silencing of those who attempt to leave.
The Kenyan government has been called upon to tighten measures and ensure that what is being taught in religious spaces is not detrimental. Many religious teachers are untrained and the NCRC has called upon the government to tighten this loophole. By
