PREMIUM How Shakahola trial pit Scripture against criminal law References to Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, salvation, the end times and fasting have become a recurring feature of the hearings. News 16 min ago

Throughout the proceedings, prosecutors have maintained that the case before the court is not a trial of religion or of the Bible but a criminal prosecution seeking to determine whether religious teachings were interpreted and applied in a manner that resulted in offences under Kenyan law.

According to the prosecution, the court was required to determine whether the conduct alleged in Shakahola amounted to neglect, cruelty or other criminal offences under Kenyan law, irrespective of the religious beliefs relied upon to justify it.

The prosecution's position has consistently been that the case is not about Christianity or the Bible, but whether the accused interpreted religious teachings in a manner that encouraged conduct amounting to criminal offences under Kenyan law.