Spiritual Abuse and Authoritarian Control in Modern Kenyan Church Movements

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@article{1709897,
      author = {Leonard Juma Wafula},
      title = {Spiritual Abuse and Authoritarian Control in Modern Kenyan Church Movements},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1515-1519},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1709897.pdf},
      abstract = {This paper examines spiritual abuse and authoritarian control within modern Kenyan church movements, focusing on systematic exploitation of vulnerable populations through religious manipulation. The study analyzes documented cases, notably the 2023 Shakahola forest massacre where over 400 followers of Paul Mackenzie's Good News International Church died following starvation instructions. Through secondary data analysis from government reports, academic research, and media investigations, this paper reveals how prosperity gospel theology, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and regulatory gaps create conditions for religious exploitation. The research demonstrates that spiritual abuse operates through financial exploitation, psychological manipulation, social isolation, and weaponized religious authority. Findings indicate urgent need for comprehensive regulatory frameworks balancing religious freedom with human rights protections while addressing underlying socio-economic vulnerabilities.},
      keywords = {Spiritual Abuse, Religious Exploitation, Prosperity Gospel, Kenya},
      month = {July},
  }