A new commission of inquiry has been set up to investigate the tragic Shakahola massacre, where close to 200 people have so far lost their lives.
The Justice Jessie Lessit-commission added to the long list of such commissions in Kenya's history. The team is not the only body looking into the tragedy.
The President also set up a taskforce led by cleric and former MP Mutava Musyimi. Their mandate is to review the legal and regulatory framework governing religious organisations. The commission is supposed to identify gaps and propose legal and governance changes to prevent religious extremism. It does not end there.
The Senate also set up an ad hoc committee led by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana. All these probes will proceed parallel to the legal and procedural investigations. The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and office of the Public Prosecution will also be doing their bit. Were all these necessary?
While it is obvious that the Shakahola tragedy should not be taken lightly, having several inquiries at the same time is not ideal. Commissions of inquiry, task forces, and ad hoc committees all need a budget. All the sittings, travels, and meetings will be funded by the public. Will they get value? History is not positive on that.
The closest we have come to a similar inquiry was in 1994, when then-President Daniel Moi set up a commission to inquire into allegations of devil worship in schools and religious institutions.
The report documented horrifying testimonies, with various well-known churches at that time being fingered. However, it was presented in Parliament nearly five years later, in 1999.
The report had many recommendations, including setting up a special police force to investigate occult crimes. The report also recommended a body composed of professionals in religious and legal fields to scrutinise all religious organisations seeking registration and de-register those that fail to live up to the established code of conduct. However, none were implemented.
You can be sure that even current inquiries will end up with a similar document. Now that they are already in place, we can only point them back to history and hope they depart from it.
However, we cannot escape the fact that the commissions may just turn out to be a reward system for cronies and a sinking hole for public funds. On the Shakahola matter, the Director of Public Prosecution has already pronounced himself on the most likely charges.
The more important issue here would be the legal and regulatory recommendations to widen the net and deal with other 'pulpit cons' who have turned the church into a betting site.
