Arch Ole Sapit bans politicians from speaking in all ACK churches countrywide
Heated political exchange was anticipated between Gachagua, his allies and the Kenya Kwanza brigade led by Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja and Makadara Member of Parliament George Aladwa
The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has today outlawed all politicians from addressing congregants in all the ACK churches countrywide.
First to be dealt the blow was former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alongside other political dignitaries who were barred from speaking inside the St Stephen’s Cathedral Jogoo Road in Makadara, Nairobi while attending the consecration and enthronement of Bishop Canon Jonathan Kabiru.
Heated political exchange was anticipated between Gachagua, his allies and the Kenya Kwanza brigade led by Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja and Makadara Member of Parliament George Aladwa.
This would have been the first Sunday service after the weeklong city tour by President William Ruto that has been termed as an anticlimax over the trail of destruction and anarchy meted on Nairobians by emboldened youthful gangs that terrorised city residents, pedestrians, businesspeople and resulted in death of a British philanthropist who was hit by a president’s motorcade along Ngong Road earlier this week.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa who are Gachagua’s newly found political allies was also in attendance.
Instead, Sapit said that their presence will be acknowledged, stand up and wave to the congregants.
“When the time comes for acknowledging all those who have come, we will do that but I want to give direction that from today henceforth in any Anglican congregation, there will be no opportunity for any political leader to have a speech in the Church…If they so wish to address the congregation, it will be done outside the sanctuary. Not only today but in all our dioceses and churches…We have already declared and we want to declare today that giving in the Anglican Church will not be announced, just give as God directs you to give. What we give to God we don’t have to tell human beings what we have given him,” Sapit said.
This comes at a time when politicians have been taking to the podium to address congregants and give donations openly.
The move, however, did not sit well with some sections of leaders and Kenyans. This is not the first time that churches have banned politicians from addressing congregations.
The Catholic Church has also in the past banned politicians from politicking in churches.
On September 15, 2021, a group of catholic bishops banned politicians from speaking in their churches.
