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Kenyan Atheists to challenge association’s suspension


The Atheists in Kenya Society will to move to court to challenge the suspension of the association by the Attorney General.

In a statement posted on their website, the society said it received a letter through postal mail, dated 29th April, 2016 through the Deputy Registrar Mrs Muluku Kariuku informing them of the suspension.

But the society, which has in recent months been fighting for recognition and registration by the government, says the move will not go unchallenged through legal channels.

“We shall be moving to court in the shortest time possible to ask the courts to quash this suspension until the matter is heard inter parte,” the statement read in part.

The society’s President, Harrison Mumia, had also acknowledge in a Facebook post on Saturday the receipt of the suspension letter from the Office of the Attorney General.

ATHEISTS PARTY

“We were organizing our first elections to be held on 3rd July, 2016. So what are the reasons for suspension?,” Mr Mumia wrote.

“Anyway, we have no option other than to move to court to defend our rights,” he added.

In early April, the Office of Attorney General, formally registered the society which was issued with a certificate, signed on February 17.

A poster of the party. PHOTO | COURTESY
A poster of the party. PHOTO | COURTESY

But the AG Githu Muigai would later the same month order for the society’s suspension following sustained pressure from religious leaders.

At the time, the AG said the legality of the registration of the Atheist Society would be determined by the Supreme Court.

However, the suspension was rubbished by the society which claimed it had not been served with the notice.

A planned Atheists party last month also failed to go according to plan after being turned down by the managers of the proposed venue. The free-entry gig, dubbed “Without God!”, was meant to be a first public meeting of Atheists in Kenya.