Piece by: Brian Oruta

24 April 2023

• Ruto said people who are masquerading as religious people yet what they do is contrary to the teachings will face the law.

• He insisted that if any religious group preaches against the tenets of the constitution, those responsible should be prosecuted.

President William Ruto has broken his silence on the Shakahola massacre, saying that the perpetrators belong in jail.

Speaking on Monday, Ruto said people who are masquerading as religious people yet what they do is contrary to the teachings and to the beliefs or religion will face the law.

He said the controversial preacher at the centre of the Shakahola massacre is a criminal and belongs in jail.

"What we are seeing in Kilifi, Shakahola is a kin to terrorism. There is no difference between Mr Mackenzie who pretends and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal," he said.

"Terrorist use religion to advance their heinous acts. People like Mackenzie are using religion to do the same thing... Let me say for the avoidance of doubt that people like Mackenzie and all other terrorists and criminals do not belong to any religion, they belong to jail and that is where they should be."

Ruto said that he has instructed the agencies to take up the matter and to get to the root cause of activities of religious or people who want to use religion to advance unacceptable ideology in the Republic of Kenya, that is causing unnecessary loss of lives.

He insisted that if any religious group preaches against the tenets of the constitution, those responsible should be prosecuted.

The president added that such institutions should be closed down because they are working against the collective interest of the people of Kenya.