A new report, Religion and Crime in Kenya, has exposed the troubling activities of fringe religious groups, highlighting their involvement in criminal practices such as financial exploitation, the promotion of false hope, and the manipulation of vulnerable followers.
These groups, which operate outside mainstream Christian denominations, have been linked to severe human rights violations, including child exploitation, murder, torture, and the isolation of members from their families and society.
Fringe religious groups, as defined in the report, are Christian denominations that practice beliefs or worship customs rejected by the majority of Christians.
The authors, Kenneth Bundi Mbaya and Phyllis Muriuki, point out that these groups often impose extreme practices, such as intensive prayer routines, which bear resemblance to certain Islamic prayer traditions but lack structure and accountability.
These rituals are marketed as solutions to personal and financial problems, exploiting the desperation of their followers.
One of the most egregious examples of the harm caused by these groups is the Shakahola tragedy, in which hundreds of individuals died after being convinced to fast to death, with the belief they would “see Jesus.”
The report also references incidents in Kilifi County, where elderly individuals were killed by their own family members following religious leaders’ false accusations of witchcraft.
These accusations, the report reveals, were often a cover for land disputes or succession issues.
Another disturbing finding is that some fringe religious groups prevent their members from seeking medical care, promoting faith healing over conventional medicine.
These groups reject hospitals and healthcare, advising their followers to rely solely on prayer, even in the case of serious illness.
The report also highlights that some of these groups discourage education, citing religious scriptures to justify keeping children out of school.
This violates the Children’s Act, which guarantees the right to education for all children in Kenya.
Members of these fringe sects argue that formal education contradicts God’s will and should be avoided.
Secrecy is another key characteristic of these groups, with many worship services taking place in undisclosed locations, such as private homes or rented premises, often shifting venues to evade local authorities.
These places of worship are sometimes heavily guarded, with strict entry requirements and even militia-like security measures to protect the premises from outsiders.
In addition to restricting access to education, healthcare, and civic participation, such groups also forbid their members from engaging in civil affairs, including voting and participating in national immunization campaigns.
The report paints a disturbing picture of religious extremism in Kenya, where these groups exploit their followers under the guise of spiritual guidance.
It calls for increased vigilance and regulation to protect vulnerable individuals from the harmful practices of these fringe religious sects.
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