The High Court of Kenya has rejected a petition from Bishop Stephen Ndichu asking that the Atheists in Kenya Society be deregistered as an organisation on the grounds that the constitution of Kenya acknowledges the existence of God. This concludes a legal battle that began in 2022.
The Atheists in Kenya Society was formed in 2013 by Harrison Mumia, and in February 2016 it became the first non-religious organisation to be registered under the Societies Act. However, only two months later, the then Attorney General suspended the registration following complaints from religious bodies. Mumia successfully challenged this decision, and the organisation’s registration was reinstated in 2018.
Bishop Ndichu’s petition was heard by Judge Lawrence Mugambi who ruled that imposing a belief on anyone would be unconstitutional. Article 8 of the constitution provided that “there shall be no state religion”, while Article 32 (4) stated that “A person shall not be compelled to act, or engage in any act, that is contrary to the person’s belief or religion.” The judge therefore dismissed the petition.
The Atheists In Kenya Society accepts atheists, agnostics, humanists, skeptics, and free-thinkers as members.