Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has moved to crack down on religious extremism after cult-like churches started re-emerging.
Speaking on Friday, April 25, 2025, during the Jukwaa La Usalama town hall meeting at Makueni Boys High School, Murkomen urged religious leaders, chiefs, and assistant chiefs to work in collaboration and help end cult-like practices.
He stated that the government would not relent in fighting to prevent the re-emergence of the Shakahola incident that saw hundreds of lives lost through religious extremism.
“Mtusaidie kama churches and religious institutions to support us to deal with this religious extremism, cults that are operating in the name of God and torturing the people of Kenya. I will stand firm; we can be accused of anything else, but we better be accused and save lives.
“What you saw in Rongo and what we dealt with yesterday in the Chakama area near where Shakahola was, we will continue working very hard, and I want to request you chiefs, mlinisikia jana nikisema, tusaidiane. Hakuna kitu inafanyika kwa sehemu yoyote ya Kenya yenye assistant chief na chief hajui,” Murkomen said.
Instructions to chiefs
Taking to his official X account hours after his event at Makueni Boys High School, Murkomen stated that chiefs and assistant chiefs across the country were under firm instruction to be vigilant and report any churches that engage in religious extremism.
“RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM: Chiefs and assistant chiefs across the country are under firm instruction to be vigilant and report any churches that engage in religious extremism. We will not condone criminal cults destroying lives in the name of freedom of worship,” Murkomen stated.
Chakama incident
This comes hours after police arrested a pastor in the Chakama area over what the authorities suspect could be religious extremism.
The pastor, who has been identified as Abel Kahindi Gandi, is now detained at the Malindi Police Station following the closure of his New Foundation Church, where police believe he was indoctrinating his followers against seeking medical attention when sick.
“A Kilifi-based pastor has today been arraigned on a miscellaneous application for the offence of radicalisation contrary to section 12 (d) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2012,” DCI said in a statement on Friday, April 25, 2025.
“His arrest by a multi-agency team and subsequent arraignment resulted from his activities at New Foundation Church located at Chakama location, where he was found to be indoctrinating his followers. Among other teachings, his followers were taught not to attend any hospital when sick but to climb a tree believed to be sacred and located within the church compound for them to receive their healing.”
Rongo incident
The incident comes days after police in Migori County launched investigations into a suspected cult following a grim discovery of two bodies and the rescue of 57 worshippers from a church compound in Kochola village, Rongo sub-county.
According to a police report filed at Kamagambo Police Station under OB No. 56/21/4/25, the incident came to light on the evening of Monday, April 21, 2025, when Assistant Chief Abiud Rariende of Kanyadiedo sub-location reported a suspicious death at the premises of St Joseph Missions of Africa Church.