Atheists agitate for total ban on preaching in buses and public places

Portia Arthur

September 22, 2015 11:33 AM

Atheists have said that street preachers subject Kenyans to nuisance by noise and disrupt the normal way of life.

Atheists in Kenya (AIK) have called for an end to preaching in public places and in matatus.

The group has written to the Council of Governors (CoG), Matatu owners Association, National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (Supkem) asking to have the public preaching banned.

In a letter by the association addressed to the CoG Chairman Peter Munya, atheists have said that street preachers subject Kenyans to nuisance by noise and disrupt the normal way of life.

Through the association’s president, Harrison Mumia, the group says that everybody has a right to choose what to believe in and it is unconstitutional for one to be subjected to what they do not believe in.

“It is against basic rights to put someone through something that is not within their beliefs,” said Mr Mumia.

The letter reads: “Reference should be made to the Kenyan Constitution Article 32 which clearly stipulates that a person may not be compelled to act, or engage in any act, that is contrary to the person’s belief or religion.”

Speaking to the Nation, Mr Mumia said that street preachers subject people to fallacies, pushing them to believe in non-existent things.

The group now wants by-laws passed to ban any form of religious activities carried out in public places.

“Nobody has the right to tell me what or whom to believe. It is a choice I make and as such nobody should subject me to their beliefs,” said the group’s head.

The association is comprised of people who do not believe in the existence of supernatural beings and power, especially God.

They have also accused media houses of going against the Constitution by broadcasting religious content on Sundays.

“Media houses have gone against Article 32 as they broadcast church services and religious content on Sunday mornings. That is not just,” said Mr Mumia.

The group now wants stakeholders in the communication and media industry to have their programming revised.

Portia Arthur

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