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The Catholic Church in Kenya has declined a financial contribution of approximately $40,000 (£32,000) made by President William Ruto during a Sunday Mass at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi. The funds were intended to support the construction of a priest’s residence and provide assistance to the church choir.
This decision comes amid recent criticism from Catholic bishops, who accused the government of failing to honor its campaign pledges. Kenyan churches have faced scrutiny this year, particularly from young protesters opposing tax increases, who allege that religious institutions are overly aligned with political leaders.
President Ruto’s donation included 2.6 million Kenyan shillings ($20,000, £16,000) in cash, with a promise to provide the remaining amount later, alongside a commitment to donate a bus to the parish. However, Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi announced the church’s decision to return the money, citing ethical considerations and the importance of avoiding political exploitation of church activities.
“The Catholic Church firmly discourages the use of church gatherings for political promotion,” Archbishop Anyolo stated. He also rejected a separate donation of 200,000 Kenyan shillings from Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who was present at the same service.
Archbishop Anyolo emphasized that such contributions violate church guidelines and Kenyan laws regulating political involvement in religious activities.
The decision underscores growing tension between Kenya’s churches and political leaders. With over 80% of the population identifying as Christian, churches have traditionally held close ties to political institutions. However, this relationship has been strained in recent years.
In 2021, major churches in Kenya prohibited politicians from using religious platforms for campaigns or donations. Despite this, the public perception of strong church-government ties persists.
Earlier this year, protests erupted over a proposed tax increase, with critics accusing churches of failing to support citizens during the crisis. The protests, organized under the hashtag #OccupyChurch, pressured the government to withdraw the contentious finance bill in July.
Last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a scathing critique of the government, accusing it of fostering a “culture of deception.” Their statement condemned issues such as excessive taxation, corruption, unemployment, and the deterioration of public services like education and healthcare.
“There is a growing sense of anxiety as many people lose faith in the government,” the bishops said, calling for urgent reforms.
President Ruto, in response, cautioned against spreading “misleading information,” while a government-aligned senator, Aaron Cheruiyot, accused the clergy of propagating “falsehoods and fake news.”
The Anglican Church of Kenya has publicly supported the Catholic bishops’ stance. Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit defended their remarks, stating that they resonated with the experiences of ordinary Kenyans.
“It is dishonest to dismiss the bishops’ statement as false or misleading,” he said. “The Catholic Church has accurately captured the reality on the ground.”
