BY MAHATMA GANDHI MAGATI

Members of the clergy from Kisii have rejected Senator Dunstan Mungatana’s ambitious proposals to have the state impose a tax on churches.

They termed as Satan-inspired and evil any move by the state to collect cess from houses of worship.

Bible Way Ministry cleric, Rev Evans Onduso, who is also the Kisii Clergy Forum Vice Chair, the pastors now want all believing legislators to rally together and block the Mungatana-sponsored Bill

“You don’t impose taxes on God, He gives us what we return to him in a token of appreciation. It should not be the other way round,” said Onduso.

The controversial Bill, inter alia seeks to introduce taxes on income, gifts, or profits generated from church.

The revenues would only be exempt from taxation if they were entirely allocated to charitable causes.

It proposes a fine of Sh5 million, three years in jail, or both for any religious leader who operates an unregistered organization.

The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), and the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK) have since called for the withdrawal of the Bill to facilitate stakeholder consultation by the clergy members.

In Kisii, various pastors called for the Bill’s rejection and called on the legislators from Gusii to reject it.

“Mungatana is inviting fire from heaven. He should keep his distance from religious affairs,” added Bishop Nyanuga Omambia, chair of Kisii Clergy Forum chairman.

Peter Morwabe, founder of the Gospel Embassy church in Kisii implored Mungatana to drop it saying it stains the state’s reputation.

“It is not worth discussing and I believe it should die on arrival,” he told Kenyaleo. Co. Ke

“We don’t know the objective, the intention, and the motive and I would betray President William Ruto if it goes through and becomes law,” Morwabe said.

Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has already distanced the State from the Religious Organisation Bill, 2024

The bill seeks to establish a regulatory framework for registration and further spells out measures for containing rogue clerics with a bent on extremism.

According to Oduor, the proposed piece of legislation reflects the independent views and legislative agenda of Senator Mungatana.

“It is hereby clarified that the Religious Organizations Bill, 2024, is a privately sponsored Bill brought forth by Senator Dunstan