Originally published in Christian Daily
The Catholic Church in Kenya has returned financial donations from the country’s president and Nairobi governor emphasising its policy against political contributions.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) released a statement on November 14, which was read in all churches of the Archdiocese of Nairobi on Sunday November 17, where Archbishop Philip Anyolo reiterated the Church’s position that politics has no place in the Church.
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“The Catholic Church strongly discourages the use of church events such as fundraisers and gatherings as platforms for political self-promotion. Politicians are urged to refrain from turning the pulpit into a stage for political rhetoric, as such actions undermine the sanctity of worship places.” he said.
The Church announced it had refunded KSh 200 000 (approximately R27 992) donated by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and KSh 2.6-million (approximately R363 907) from President William Ruto. It also declined the president’s pledge of KSh 3-million (approximately R419 893) and a parish bus offered during a Sunday service at Soweto Catholic Church.
According to Archbishop Anyolo, these actions were in line with both Church policy and the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill, 2024, which requires individuals seeking to raise funds publicly to obtain a permit. He emphasised that political donations violated these directives and the law. “Consequently, the donations made to Soweto Catholic Church on Sunday November 17, are in violation of these directives and the law. These funds will be refunded to the respective donors,” the statement read.
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“The Church must remain a neutral entity, free from political influence, to effectively serve as a space for spiritual growth and community guidance,” he said, adding that “politicians are most welcome to attend Church for their spiritual nourishment, but they are encouraged to do so as ordinary Christians, without leveraging their positions for political gain.”
In the same statement, the KCCB had also accused the government of perpetuating a “culture of lies” and failing to fulfill its promises, particularly in addressing the high cost of living and tax burdens. The Bishops called for genuine stakeholder consultation on pressing national matters, describing the current approach as insufficient. “This culture of lies, unkept promises, and misplaced priorities is unacceptable and needs to be dealt with.”
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki responded by welcoming constructive criticism from the Church and civil society. “The government has no fight with the Church because we know governments are led by humans. Humans sometimes fall short, and we are open to receiving opinions on how we can improve government performance for the sake of Kenyans,” said Kindiki. He added that constructive dialogue, rather than incitement, should guide national discourse.
The Anglican Church of Kenya expressed solidarity with the Catholic Church’s stance. Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit criticised government officials who dismissed the Catholic Bishops’ statements as “misleading and erroneous”. “Calling church leaders names or dismissing their statements is itself dishonest,” said Ole Sapit, urging respect for religious institutions.
The controversy comes amid growing public concern over Kenya’s economic performance. Central Bank Governor Kamau Thugge recently revised the 2024 economic growth projection downwards, citing a slowdown in the second quarter of the year. “The growth projection for 2024 has been revised to 5.1% from the previous projection of 5.4%, reflecting the growth outcome for the second quarter of 2024,” Thugge said in a media briefing last month.
The political and economic challenges Kenya is facing continues to fuel national debate with a rising trend of religious and civil society organisations sharply criticising the government for the current state of affairs. While addressing members of his cabinet yesterday, November 19, President Ruto strongly defended his government stressing Kenya will not fail. “I promise you, we will confound the naysayers, we will succeed. This country will not fail, this great nation that God has given us, will succeed. The enemies of Kenya will be put to shame because we are going to succeed and take this country forward.”
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