Hindus welcome Kenya’s withdrawal of proposed religious regulations

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, thanked Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta for withdrawing proposed Societies (Religious Societies) Rules, 2015, and thus showing a strong political will on this issue of unnecessary and unrealistic encroachment undermining the religious freedom and exhibiting his commitment to facilitate a free and open society.

Moreover, governments should not be in the business of micromanaging religious bodies and regulating worship procedures, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted.

Rajan Zed further said that as Kenya’s constitution and other laws/policies protected religious freedom, Kenya should see religious diversity as a national strength and reaffirm its history of religious freedom.

Zed stressed that continued commitment to advance religious freedom-diversity-tolerance and peaceful coexistence-cooperation needed to be promoted in Kenya and positive steps should be taken to engage in interfaith dialogue. Ethnic diversity of Kenya, described as "the cradle of humanity" which showed earliest evidence of human's ancestors, had produced a vibrant culture.