Catholics lead in support of controversial religious rules

Pan Africa Research Services (PARS) Associate Director Susan Chege during the release a survey results in Nairobi yesterday. The opinion poll on proposed religious rules found that most Kenyans want controls introduced. [PHOTO: BEVERLYNE MUSILI/ STANDARD]

The majority of Kenyans support the proposed regulations for religious organisations, a new survey shows.

The study by Pan African Research Services (PARS) shows that at least 64 per cent of Kenyans want religious organisations regulated to streamline their operations.

According to the survey, 71 per cent of Catholics support the proposed laws, compared to Protestants (61 per cent) and Muslims (64 per cent).

“The survey findings indicate that a significant number of Kenyans supported the proposed regulations, with at least 60 per cent of Kenyans saying they felt there was need to regulate religious institutions. This sentiment was shared across the different religions,” shows the survey conducted from January 19 to 23.

PARS further shows that the majority Kenyans believe that untrained preachers do not have knowledge to interpret the holy book. And 81 per cent of Catholics, 76 per cent Protestants and 80 per cent Muslims support the directive that all religious leaders should have a certificate of good conduct.

Infringing on freedom

Only 22 per cent of Kenyans think that a certificate of good conduct is not necessary for religious leaders.

On whether religious leaders should have theological training certificates to preach, 64 per cent of Kenyans believe this will prevent them from misleading Kenyans. This will also help them to interpret the holy book.

However, about 36 per cent of the 2,096 respondents believe that preaching is a calling or a gift, therefore does not require training.

“Important to note is that the majority of Kenyans were in support of the proposal for the attainment of a certificate of good conduct by the clerics (78) and that the clerics should obtain training from a recognised institution supported by 64 per cent of Kenyans.”

More Catholics are in support of such qualifications as a requirement for one to be a priest at 71 per cent compared to Protestants and Muslims at 61 and 64 per cent respectively. “Of those polled, the respondents who profess the Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths were of the opinion that religious clerics should have a certificate of good conduct which would ensure the churches rid themselves of rogue preachers who take advantage of the congregation,” stated the research firm’s Managing Director, Ms Jane Mugo.

The research was carried out before the government withdrew the proposed regulations following protest from religious organisations.

President Uhuru Kenyatta directed Attorney General Githu Muigai to engage religious organisations after they accused the government of infringing on the right to freedom of worship. Among others, the regulations required religious institutions to submit annual tax returns and audited accounts.

The firm which was established 10 years ago says that about 62 per cent of the respondents opposed the requirement to audit accounts of religious organisations.

A majority of the respondents say the institutions should be given a free hand in determining how they spend their funds.

They argue that money collected by churches was for their own use and for the needy.

“For instance, only 38 per cent supported submission of annual tax returns by religious institutions with those not in agreement citing that the funds collected were for use by the institution and thus should not be regulated (24 per cent) and that the funds were used to help the needy and thus there was no need to regulate them (20 per cent).