Kenyan Pastors Protest Pay-to-Preach Laws, As cleric charges members $10 to check their names in God’s ‘Book of Life’

Kenyan Pastors Protest Pay-to-Preach Laws, As cleric charges members $10 to check their names in God’s ‘Book of Life’

Hundreds of pastors in Central Kenya confronted a county governor last week to protest against a new bill that could see clergy charged for preaching outside of their churches. The pastors, who say they represent as many as 1,200 churches within Nyeri County, marched to the governor’s office on Feb. 12 to protest against the Nyeri County Finance Bill, which includes a section on charging preachers for speaking in public. The bill, which is yet to be debated by the local government or signed by the county governor, states that clergy must pay 10,000 Kenyan Shillings (approx. €85) per day to preach inside a stadium, 8,000 KES (€68) outside a stadium and 5,000 (€42) in rural areas. Charles Muchiri, priest of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Ruiru, near Nairobi, and chairman of the 300 pastors, said that churches should not be commercialised and treated like businesses, and that the bill would leave clergy dependent upon funds to reach beyond their churches. “The services rendered by the church to the people are free and such a high tax imposition will greatly affect the spreading of the gospel,” he said. IN Kenya, it is common for churches to hold evangelical events in stadiums that can last from three days to a full week. The Nyeri governor, Nderitu Gachagua, was out of office on the day of the protest, but the bishops were addressed by Finance Executive Martin Wamwea, who promised a response from the County Assembly Finance Committee within seven working days. Nyeri is not the first of Kenya’s 47 counties to consider such measures. Nairobi County proposed a similar law last year that would charge clergy for the use of public parks. The two largest parks in Kenya’s capital, Uhuru and Kamukunji, are popular venues for evangelical meetings. But under the proposed law churches could be forced to pay 50,000 KES (€423) per day to preach from the main stand or 40,000 KES (€338) elsewhere in the park. Under Nairobi’s proposed bill, street evangelists would also be forced to pay 2,500 (€21) to preach. Similar proposals were made in Busia County in Western Kenya, but the bill was dropped after protests from clergy. Recent reports claimed that one pastor had been charging 1,500 KES (€13) for the promise of salvation, while another reportedly sold holy oil for money. Christians in Kenya are divided on the issue. Some argue that it is wrong to charge preachers, but others say clerics should pay the fees, a view that is bolstered by reports that clergy have been exploiting their positions to make money. Meanwhile, a controversial Christian pastor in Kenya, which UNICEF lists as among the 30 poorest countries in the world and where more than 25 percent of the population live on less than $1 a day, has been charging his faithful congregants more than $10 each to tell them if they will be allowed into heaven. According to a report from The Nairobian, the televangelist, Bishop Thomas Wahome of Helicopter of Christ Church, began charging members of his congregation about 1,000 Kenyan shillings or just over $10 to tell them if their names are written in the Book of Life. In Christianity, the Book of Life is where God records the name of all people who are destined for heaven. Wahome, whose followers have branded him a prophet, believe he has been granted special access to the pages of God’s book and have reportedly been turning to him to check on their heavenly status. “I am shocked. My friends told me their names are in the Book of Life and I should also go to check if I will be allowed into Heaven,” Sheila Mbaya, a married mother of one, told The Nairobian. The publication called Wahome’s ministry to verify Mbaya’s claim and a woman identified as Pastor Salome confirmed that it would cost $1,100 Kenyan Shillings to check the Book of Life. “Send the money to this number, 07XX032000 (number concealed) and then come tomorrow at around 10 in the morning. The bishop will then tell you if your name is in the Book of Life,” she said. This isn’t the first time Wahome has peddled supernatural promises to his poverty-stricken followers. Last year, the televangelist told his followers they could be healed from ailments by touching his clothes like the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:21-34. He told them, however, that a touch of his clothes would come at a cost of 1,200 Kenyan Shillings.