Kenya’s Catholic Church has formally rejected a donation of approximately $40,000 (£32,000) from President William Ruto which was intended for the construction of a priest’s house and as a gift to the choir during Mass at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi. The rejection comes in the wake of a recent statement by Catholic bishops criticizing the government’s failure to honour its electoral promises.
The church’s decision reflects growing pressure from young anti-tax protesters who accuse religious institutions of being too aligned with politicians. Following Ruto’s public donation, many Kenyans urged the church to decline the funds. The president had initially provided around Ksh 2.6 million ($20,000, £16,000) in cash with a pledge to donate the remaining amount later along with a promise to provide a bus for the parish.
Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi announced that the cash donation would be returned due to “ethical concerns and the need to safeguard the Church from being used for political purposes.” He further declined Ruto’s other pledges and also rejected a separate donation of Ksh 200,000 from Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja who attended the same mass. “The Catholic Church strongly discourages the use of church events as platforms for political self-promotion,” Archbishop Anyolo emphasized, noting that such donations violate both church directives and Kenyan law.
The historical ties between churches and political entities in Kenya where over 80% of the population is Christian, appear to be deteriorating. While established churches previously banned politicians from using church platforms for fundraising, perceptions of a close relationship persist. Young activists have accused churches of siding with the government during protests against new tax measures earlier this year.
The backlash against President Ruto’s administration prompted the withdrawal of a controversial finance bill in July. Just last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops criticized the government for fostering a “culture of lies” in a statement raising issues related to over-taxation, corruption, human rights violations, unemployment and deteriorating education and healthcare systems. “Despite the calmness we are experiencing, there is a lot of anxiety and most people are losing trust in the government,” the bishops remarked.
In response, President Ruto urged caution among clergy in their public statements emphasizing the importance of factual reporting to avoid becoming victims of their own accusations. Government-aligned senator Aaron Cheruiyot accused the church of spreading misinformation and asserted that the clergy should steer clear of becoming propagators of “fake news” and falsehoods.
With an estimated 10 million Catholics in Kenya who make around 20% of the population, other Christian denominations such as the Anglican Church of Kenya, have backed the Catholic bishops. Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit stated that the bishops were articulating the sentiments of many Kenyans. “Labeling church leaders or dismissing the bishops’ statement as misleading is itself dishonest,” he said. “The bishops have faithfully expressed the truth as it stands on the ground.”
