This archive report was first published on 4 September 2019.
On September 4, 2019, a court in Marimanti, Tharaka-Nithi County, sentenced 46 members of the Kabonokia sect to prison terms ranging from six to 12 months for refusing to be enumerated in the national census.
The court, presided over by Senior Resident Magistrate Stephen Nyaga, charged the sect members with failing to provide information to census officials, lacking National Identity Cards, and declining to be fingerprinted during police interrogation.
Of the 46, four were released after pleading guilty and agreeing to be enlisted, while the others maintained that their religious doctrines prohibit participation in 'earthly' activities, including the census.
Two sect members from Karocho location were sentenced to one year in prison, with an option to pay a fine of Sh200,000, for declining to be counted and lacking National Identity Cards.
Magistrate Nyaga warned, 'If you fail to pay the fine, you will serve one year in prison, six months for declining to be counted, and six months for lacking a National Identity Card.'
Twenty-five women and 17 men from Thiiti and Kathangacini locations were sentenced to six months in prison or pay a fine of Sh100,000 for declining to be enumerated.
The sect's members do not participate in activities such as census and elections, considering them sinful and meant for sinners. They also do not seek medical services, immunize their newborns, attend school, or use mobile phones, believing that education is an earthly activity and that sick people should pray for healing.
