Freemasons open up as city county digs in on rates bill

For many years, Kenyans have been talking about the Freemason Society in hushed tones.

With the Freemasons’ Hall located along Nyerere road, some people have linked the area with dark secrets, some whispering words of prayer when near the compound.

The Freemason Hall in the heart of the city sits on an expansive land partly covered with mature indigenous and exotic trees, making it stand out from the rest.

The expansive Hall is an old building constructed from carefully crafted stones with stylish finishing; its tinted windows make it hard to peek inside.

The Hall’s roofing design, consisting of tiles and white exterior, complements its pre-colonial look.

From the entrance of the compound, all the way to the Hall also known as the Lodge, which is about 200 metres stretch, the walkway and compound is carpeted with cabro pieces.

“God said of King Solomon, he shall build me a house and I will establish his throne forever,” are the words inscribed on top of the Hall’s main entrance.

At the entrance is a warning that phones are prohibited.

But what shocked many this week was the move by the Nairobi City County to put up notices at the entrance of the Hall claiming that the owners had not paid Sh19 million in land rates.

Since then, Kenyans have been asking questions about the society that has for ages been associated with the high profile figures in the country, among them politicians and successful business people.

And yesterday, the Freemason society opened up not only about the land rates issue but their secrets and how they run their activities.

Led by William Ramsay McGhee, the Grand Master Mason, Grand Lodge of Scotland, the society denied reports that it had defaulted on the land rates.

“The matter has been passed to the legal advisors and we are waiting for the outcome of that. But as you can see, we are active as normal,” said Ramsay.

The society added that it is in talks with the county so as to iron out the matter.

City Hall said the Freemasons’ Hall was clamped following due process, including the issuance of demand notices and public warnings. It is reported that, out of approximately 256,000 parcels of land registered in Nairobi, only 50,000 are currently up to date with their land rates, representing a compliance rate of just 20 per cent.

According to the city county government, it sicks to recover up to Sh10 billion in unpaid land rates.

Ramsay, who is in the country for official business and was in Naivasha on Thursday for charitable activities, explained how the society runs its operations.

“I am happy what the Scottish Freemason members are doing not only in this country but also in Uganda where we have been involved in providing ambulances and other activities,” he said, adding:

“Contrary to what some people believe, Freemasonry is purely and simply an organization that tries to make good men better men. We try restore in them the values of integrity and honesty.”

He downplayed the claims that the society has hidden secrets but said the few secrets they have are just purely to guide new members.

 “It is a society that has two or three secrets but nothing to worry about. They simply make anyone who is joining the society have some setting to tell them as they progress to the next degrees. Members are advised to take cognizance of the laws of the society that they live in,” Ramsay said.

“The members are encouraged to do all that they can for the neighbour and to become good people and explore arts and signs such as music and geometry.  But if you visit some websites, you will see so many things that are totally untrue. We are simply good and honest men who are trying to make good and honest men out of other men,” he added, pointing out that such misconceptions were not limited to Kenya.

According to the leader, there is no age limit for those seeking to join the society but one must be referred by an existing member. The the whole process of joining takes about one year.