Politicians are still flocking in churches despite warnings from senior clerics baring politicians from politicking on the pulpit.
Catholic bishops and Anglican Churches of Kenya banned politicians from addressing congregations in churches after it became evident that political leaders were turning the churches into campaign fields.
As the political realignments occur ahead of next August’s general election, Deputy President William Ruto yesterday attended a service at the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) church in Kiambu stating that he comes as a Christian to support church projects.
“We come as christians to support church projects,” he said.
He offered Sh1 million to a woman to buy a house, start a business and to also take her two children out of the children’s home they currently live in.
He also gave Sh2 million for the AIPCA church project and invited the clerics to his Karen residence to discuss another project for Sh5 million.
Elswhere, Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi was at the Chabuene Methodist Church in Imenti North Constituency where he criticised what he described as heightening political tensions in the country.
Mudavadi was in Meru County for the second day running yesterday, is keen to woo Mt. Kenya region as he pushes his presidential candidature over the limit.
“We respect the Church and its protocols. If there are guidlines the Church would like us to follow, we will respect that. We cannot engage in an argument with religious leaders,” he said.
Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde, chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops said that any politician who attends Mass must do so like any worshipper.
“We wish to firmly state again that our places of worship and liturgy are sacred and (do) not serve as political arenas. The church is above politics. We as clergy, and especially the priests, are to ensure that places are not used by leaders to further their political agenda, ” he said in a statement.
Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit of Kenya also issued a similar ban, saying the politicians were interfering with the sacredness of the places of worship.
At the news conference, the Catholic bishops also addressed other concerns, including, the politicians’ defiance of a government ban on rallies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a dispute between the president and his deputy, and politically instigated violence.
“We wish to sound a loud warning against utterances and attitudes of possible drums of war all over the country. If unchecked, such utterances and attitudes may spark off election violence during the forthcoming electioneering period,” said the bishops.
However, Methodists will allow politicians to speak to congregants from the pulpit.
Methodist Church Kenya Presiding Bishop, Joseph Ntombura said the decision to stop politicians from addressing worshippers is not wise, adding that it amounts to denying a section of church members from taking part in services.
In the past, some priests have allowed the politicians to greet the church congregations, but the politicians have used the moment to attack their opponents or attempted to sway the congregants to their side.
Some of the politicians have been accused of hate speech in churches.
