The independence church yesterday dismissed social media reports that leaders who have been warring had been coerced by President Uhuru Kenyatta to support his Azimio La Umoja aspirations.
For now, they said the President is the leader of Kenya and are supporting his calls for unity in the country through the Handshake with ODM leader, Raila Odinga.
Representatives of the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) said the church is not affiliated to any political grouping as articulated elsewhere by people they described as out to put a wedge between members of the church.
Archbishop Samson Muthuri of the Eastern archdiocese said the church stands for unity of the country and its congregants.
“We reject the social media articles indicating that we are forced to unite by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta,” he said when he addressed journalists in Kiambu.
However, even as the clergy expressed support to divergent political opinions among the church members, the archbishops including Fredrick Wang’ombe and Julius Njoroge said they respect the president because he is a unifying factor for the country.
“We respect the president as a symbol of national unity and we cannot be dragged into cheap politics,” Muthuri said.
The three AIPCA leaders have been warring over the church’s general leadership to a point where various leaders have had to intervene, latest being when they were hosted at Harambee House by Interior Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho last year.
Initially, the president and his deputy, William Ruto have called for truce in the church. In turn, the three leaders have committed to bury their wrangles for the sake of the unity of the church.
“The church must unite, and we can only achieve this by joining hands,” Muthuri said noting that the authors of the Facebook post that has raised temperatures among church members “are well known.”
“We are thankful to President Uhuru Kenyatta. He has really assisted us. He is not forcing anyone or his deputy to come together,” Njoroge added, arguing that the church leadership respects what every member feels about the political atmosphere in the country.
“Our members are vying for different political parties, but that does not affect our operations and quest for unity,” he said.
On donations to churches, the leaders said they depend on donations, and don’t question the source of the money.
“Even members give donations and offerings we rarely ask where it comes from,” said Wang’ombe.
He therefore said that anyone’s opinion outside the church can’t be the voice of the church, but view it as personal.