DP tells ‘seed’ pastors to register with Kenya Seed Company

Deputy President William Samoei Ruto. Photo/ FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 9- Deputy President William Ruto says the government will listen to the concerns raised by some clerics before the Programming Code for Free-to-Air Broadcasting is implemented.

The Deputy President says the provision in the code which prohibits preachers from soliciting funds in their broadcasts is intended to prevent exploitation.

“Others sell seeds, water in church; the likes of Kanyari with their Sh310. What we want are churches concerned with our salvation not turning God’s temple into a market place. Those who want to sell seeds should register with the Ministry of Agriculture.”

He’s however noted that there is a need for stakeholder involvement before the code comes into force.

“We would not want to hinder ministry. If there is a problem with the code, as a government we are ready to discuss and see how it can be remedied. We shall engage our legislators,” he assured.

The Deputy President made the assurance on Friday when he hosted religious leaders from Kakamega and Bungoma at his Sugoi home.

The clerics raised their concerns over the code with him saying it would hinder their ministries by restricting giving.

About The Author

OLIVE BURROWS

With a decade of storytelling under her belt, Olive Burrows has been with Capital FM for the last four years and perhaps most notably interviewed US President Barack Obama. Committed to asking the hard questions and telling the story in the most engaging way possible, she has also interviewed Melinda Gates, a UK Minister and severally had the opportunity to sit across from President Uhuru Kenyatta and address the pressing issues of the day. Other notables she has had occasion to seek answers from are UN Secretary General António Guterres and John Kerry in his time as US Secretary of State.

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