Nairobi County officials, led by Health CEC Susan Silantoi, on Wednesday raided the Freemasons Hall on Nyerere Road over the multimilliom land rates debt, the raid being part of an ongoing countywide operation targeting defaulters, as the revenue department intensifies efforts to collect about Ksh. 10 billion in the next two months.

The Freemasons’ Hall, a landmark structure known for its discreet yet elaborate events and rituals, has long drawn public intrigue.

It serves as a spiritual and administrative hub for local Freemasonry members, whose meetings often revolve around moral philosophy, community service, and symbolic rituals.

The sudden City Council raid, once again, brought to the fore the enigmatic allure and prestigious legacy of the Hall, with many Kenyans taking to the internet to pontificate over the often misunderstood organisation and what, exactly, happens within the shrouded walls.

Over the years, Kenyans have known of a pseudo-religious body known as the 'Freemasons' but few have quite understood the intricate workings of the organisation, what it stands for, who they worship and what their religious tenets are.

Over the past three decades, myths and superstitions have continued to surround Freemasonry, with many Kenyans still believing that the organisation is rooted in devil-worship and dark, satanic practises to gain wealth.

According to The East African, Freemasonry has been in East Africa since the first Lodge was opened in Zanzibar in 1905, but Masonic Lodges back then were reluctant to initiate people of African and Asian descent - there was only one Lodge (established in 1931) that admitted Asians as members and they too were very selective. 

While trying to unravel the secretive organisation, The East African spoke to renowned Tanzanian Freemason guru Sir Jayantilal Keshavji Chande, a former District Grand Master of East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the Seychelles) between 1986 and 2005. 

A giant in Tanzania's commercial, political and social life, Sir Andy Chande was an astute industrialist, philanthropist, trustee and a social pillar and also a well-versed Freemason who wrote books on the organisation and presided over the mighty spread of the discreet body across East Africa.

In his book, "Whither Directing Your Course", a communique to the various Masonic bodies in East Africa and overseas, Sir Chande wrote that the sole purpose of Freemasonry is to influence the forging of standards, virtues of brotherly love, relief and truth.

"Freemasonry seeks to develop the character of a man, cultivating loyalty to the country, family, to God and fellow human beings. A Freemason is exhorted to maintain high ethical standards in his business and when dealing with customers and the public," he wrote.

Sir Andy Chande was initiated into the craft (Freemasonry) in 1954 after a two-year wait and rose through the ranks to District Grand Master. "At the height of colonial rule, non-Europeans could not be easily admitted into the craft. It took me some two years to be accepted," he said.

He was knighted by the Queen of England in 2005 and in March 2006, the Duke of Kent conferred on him the most prestigious award of Order of Service to Masonry which, until 2017, was available to only 12 living Freemasons.

As the District Grand Master, he was called upon to explain the workings of the Masons by a commission in Kenya that was set up by President Daniel arap Moi in the early 1990s to investigate allegations of devil worship against the society - then, Kenyans were fixated with the devil and satanic symbolism.

Sir Andy Chande would go on to say that everything about the craft, except symbols and signs of recognition were open and available. "The only thing you will not find there is the mode of recognition used by Freemasons worldwide," he said.

In the book Whither Directing Your Course , Sir Chande noted that Freemasonry 'teaches great truths concerning the nature and existence of one Supreme Deity (great architect of the universe) and the existence and immortality of the soul.

He wrote: "The Masonic philosophy utilises the teaching of all ages and the symbolism of the builder's art. He builds on principles, namely, brotherly love, relief and truth reflected in the sacred books, which preach the adherence to the truth, love for neighbours and belief in God."

"If you are a Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jew or Sikh, you are exhorted to be a good one." 

He further wrote that Freemasonry seeks to cultivate and improve the human mind, spirit and personality: "Harmonious relationships with all religions are viewed as necessary to diverse outlook on life." 

And on the question of the general perception that Freemasonry enriches its members, Sir Chande stressed that the motive of joining the movement should be thoroughly vetted. 

"Freemasonry admits a good man with a view to making him better. Human beings sometimes ask questions even though they know the answers. Some ask questions to be enlightened but they have already made up their minds."

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While maintaining that Freemasonry conferred no financial benefit on a member, he also cautioned that a member was prohibited from commercialising it. 

"He is not allowed to use Freemasonry to advance pecuniary or other advantage. At meetings, members are prohibited from discussing politics or religion. Charity and helping indigent members of the community is one of the objectives of Freemasonry,” said Sir Chande.

The craft, it should be noted, is not a substitute to religion - Although the masons make use of symbolism and allegories, the key holy books - the King James Version of the Bible, the Hindu Gita and the Islamic Koran — are available in the Lodges.

In 1738, Pope Clement XIV issued a Papal Bull forbidding Catholics from joining Freemasonry. 

Infact, a controversy erupted in Ghana early this year during the parliamentary hearings for the appointment of the Minister of Youth Development and Emancipation, George Opare Addo.

During the debate, minority leader, Afenyo-Markin, asked if Opare Addo was a Freemason, to which he responded by openly acknowledging his membership in Freemasonry.

The admission generated mixed reactions, and the Archdiocese of Accra reiterated, in a note issued on January 26, that Catholics cannot associate with Freemasonry.

Originally begun as independent spiritual and welfare associations of master stone masons who built the medieval castles and cathedrals in England and Scotland, Freemasonry is not a religion but a membership organisation open to men of all faiths who profess belief in a "supreme being" and who seek to lead moral and useful lives.

Many peoples' belief that Freemasonry was satanic emerged in the 1700s at the time of great religious upheaval in Europe when so-called "freethinkers” were beginning to question the absolute authority of monarchs and religious authority - they were often labelled devil worshippers and suffered extreme punishment. 

The craft has been in existence for over 300 years and has drawn members from royalty, heads of state and industry. However, over the last 35 years, global membership has steadily gone down.