President William Ruto called for the prosecution of Pastor Paul Mackenzie over the deaths of several of his followers whose bodies were discovered buried at Shakahola Forest in Kilifi.
Speaking during the Prison Officers Pass Out Parade on Monday, April 24, the Head of State likened the pastor to a terrorist for ordering Kenyans to do acts contrary to the tenets of the Constitution.
Ruto further condemned religious groups that asked Kenyans to refrain from going to the hospital when sick or prohibited children from going to school.
"Look out for those who want to abuse even the religious sector by masquerading as religious people yet what they do is contrary to the teachings and to the beliefs of the religion whether they are Christians, Muslims or any other religion.
"What we are seeing in Kilifi, Shakahola, is akin to terrorism. There is no difference between Mr Mackenzie who pretends and postures as a pastor when in fact he is a terrible criminal. Terrorists use religion to advance their heinous acts. People like Mr Mackenzie are using religion to do exactly the same thing," he stated.
The President, therefore, directed security agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), to carry out thorough investigations against pastors abusing their place in religion to commit heinous acts.
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"I want to say that I have instructed the agencies responsible to take up the matter and to get to the root course and to the bottom of the people who want to use religion to advance weird unacceptable ideology in the Republic of Kenya that is coursing unnecessary loss of lives," he added.
He also called on authorities to shut down such religious institutions adding that they were working against the interests of the people.
"Those religious institutions should be closed down because they are working against the collective interest of the people of Kenya. Those responsible should be prosecuted.
"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," added Ruto.
Ruto's remarks came after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Sunday, April 23, deployed police to the village to seal off the forest where mass graves were unearthed.
He stated that a multi-agency security team was unraveling the deaths linked to fasting ahead of his visit to the area on Tuesday, April 25.
"Enough security officers have been deployed, and the entire 800-acre forest sealed off and declared a crime scene.
"I have directed the Regional Commissioner for Coast Region together with the Regional Security Team to reinforce the team in Malindi ahead of my visit on Tuesday, April 25," he stated.
Paul Mackenzie is believed to have coerced the deceased members of his church to fast and is already in police custody aiding in investigations.
As of Sunday, April 23, 18 more bodies were exhumed from Shakahola village bringing the tally to 39.
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