End of the road for rogue preachers as Cabinet endorses law to tame them

thenamlola@gmail.com

The Cabinet has approved sweeping reforms targeting rogue religious leaders  signalling a new phase of accountability for a sector long plagued by impunity and public mistrust.

The move follows public outcry over chilling events such as the Shakahola cult deaths, the infamous miracle babies scandal, and the rising trend of preachers soliciting money in the name of supernatural promises.

A Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto on Tuesday endorsed proposals by the Presidential Taskforce on Religious Organisations, including the introduction of a legal framework to govern the operations of religious bodies.

Key proposals include the creation of a Religious Affairs Commission, mandatory leadership standards, reforms in religious broadcasting, and a shift toward self-regulation anchored by umbrella faith organisations.

The Cabinet emphasized that while the government respects freedom of worship, it will no longer allow unscrupulous individuals to exploit the faithful under the guise of divine authority.

A multi-agency effort involving security agencies, interfaith platforms, and educational institutions will support the implementation of these reforms.

In a related move to restore order in the health sector, the Cabinet endorsed the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, 2025, which proposes the establishment of a powerful regulatory body to oversee all health facilities, laboratories and ambulance services.

The Bill seeks to address systemic fraud, licensing of unqualified institutions, and weak enforcement of standards that have left patients exposed to exploitation and danger. A new Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Authority will be tasked with implementing a national quality assurance framework, enforcing patient rights, and holding both private and public providers accountable.

On infrastructure, the Cabinet authorised the release of additional funds under the Road Maintenance Levy Fund, settling up to 80% of verified pending bills involving 393 road projects. Contractors will be required to extend their final payment timelines by 120 days to qualify for the payout.

In the energy sector, the Cabinet approved the privatisation of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) through the Nairobi Securities Exchange, marking a strategic shift toward private-sector efficiency. Officials said the move mirrors successful transformations witnessed in Safaricom, KCB and KenGen.

To extend electricity access, the Cabinet gave the green light to Phase III of the Last Mile Connectivity Project, which targets over 180,000 new connections across underserved counties. The project is supported by the African Development Bank and Canada-AfDB Climate Fund.

Cabinet also endorsed the Olkaria VII Geothermal Power Project, expected to inject 80.3MW of clean energy into the national grid by 2027. The plant is being developed in partnership with Japan and the European Investment Bank.

To address youth unemployment, the Cabinet approved the launch of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project in August. Backed by the World Bank, the programme targets over 820,000 youth with paid internships, entrepreneurship support and formal recognition of informal skills.

On conservation, the Cabinet ratified the transfer of Amboseli National Park to the Kajiado County Government, under a phased co-management model with Kenya Wildlife Service. The move is expected to promote community stewardship while safeguarding national conservation priorities.

Also approved was the Power of Mercy Bill, 2025, which aims to modernise the presidential pardon system by introducing supervised early release for rehabilitated inmates and repealing outdated laws that have complicated reintegration efforts.