Kenya’s Presidential Taskforce Recommends New Regulatory Framework for Religious
Organizations

The Presidential Taskforce on the Review of the Legal and Regulatory Framework Governing
Religious Organisations in Kenya has concluded its mandate and submitted its report to
President William Ruto on Tuesday.
The taskforce has put forward several significant recommendations aimed at safeguarding
religious freedom while preventing any harm. “The recommendations in the report advocate the
safeguards and protection of the freedom of religion, while concurrently mitigating the potential
to inflict harm upon the Kenyan people,” noted a statement from Statehouse.
The taskforce has emphasized the importance of civic education. They recommend developing
and revising educational materials to clarify the rights and responsibilities of religious
organizations and citizens, highlighting the dangers of religious extremism.The revised
curriculum aims to educate the public about the dangers of religious extremism and promote a
culture of mutual respect among different faiths.
To institutionalize these recommendations, the taskforce has developed several draft documents,
including the Draft Religious Organisations Policy, 2024, the Draft Religious Organisations Bill,
2024, and the Draft Regulation of Organisations (General) Regulations, 2024. These documents
are designed to provide a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for religious
organizations in Kenya.
The taskforce was established in May of the previous year following the Shakahola tragedy,
which resulted in numerous deaths attributed to what the state described as “religious extremism
and sinister misrepresentation of faith.” The incident underscored the urgent need for a more
robust regulatory framework to prevent such occurrences in the future.