Kenya: The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has rejected a cash donation by President William Ruto and Governor of Nairobi – Johnson Sakaja during a church service at Soweto Catholic Church on Sunday.
Bishop Anyolo refused to accept the donated cash and said the promised bus would not be accepted by the Church. The Bishops also rejected President Ruto’s Ksh. 3 million pledge for the construction of the Church.
Reportedly, President Ruto attended the church service at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi on Sunday, November 17, 2024 and was accompanied by Governor Sakaja.
During the service, the president donated amount of Ksh 600,000 to the church choir while Governor Sakaja gave Sh 200,000.
President of Kenya William Ruto donated Ksh 2 million for the construction of the Parish Priest’s house. The Head of State also promised to deliver a bus to the church in January 2025.
Moreover, Archbishop Philip A. Anyolo spoke on behalf of the Archdiocese and emphasised the strong opposition of the Church to use its platforms for political gain and benefits.
However, the Bishops also rejected the Ksh. 3 million pledged by President Ruto for the construction of the Church. He cited a directive by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) that banned the acceptance of such donations.
Notably, Archdiocese of Nairobi reaffirmed its commitment to the KCCB policy on political donations to the Church.
KCCB also delivered a statement on Nov 14, 2024 and read in all churches within the Archdiocese on Sunday, Nov 17, 2024. They emphasised the importance of preserving the independence and sanctity of the Church.
Considering this, Archbishop Anyolo stated that the Catholic Church will maintain a firm stance on the donations and grants made by the politicians. He highlighted the needs of the Church to safeguard itself from being used for political reasons.
Additionally, he advised politicians not to use the pulpit for rhetoric and claimed that such actions jeopardise the sanctity of religious spaces.
The Church urged the political leaders to focus on critical national issues that include corruption, human rights violations, unfulfilled promises and over-taxation.