The controversy surrounding the Church and Politics continues to draw mixed reactions among Kenyans and religious leaders.
Recent happenings have seen the Church come under great scrutiny following it’s decision to condone politicking in the pulpits instead of promoting the word of God.
It is as if the Kenyan Churches have been turned into auction places.
With this in mind, a number of politicians who have time and gain poured money to churches like Deputy President William Ruto have time and again been criticized by other politicians and religious leaders.
Religious leaders themselves are divided on to whether to accept cash donations from politicians or not. Some have welcomed the cash while others like a number of religious leaders from Muranga have distanced themselves from it
The leaders,3 of them, drawn from the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) have distanced themselves from a major prayer rally planned in Murang’a to be attended by Deputy President William Ruto.
At the same time, Murang’a Catholic Bishop James Maria Wainaina also dissociated himself from the rally, saying he will not attend it.
The rally had been planned for Saturday but organisers Thursday said it has been postponed to May 11 as the DP will be attending the burial of Jonathan Toroitich, the son of former President Daniel arap Moi.
This is according to Murang’a Bishop’s forum chairman Stephen Maina of the Full Time Winners Gospel Church.
On Wednesday, Bishop Maina had said 11 of his colleagues from various denominations including the ACK and the Catholic Church were in the organising committee of the prayer meeting also meant to endorse the DP for the presidency come 2022.
But on Thursday, ACK bishops Julius Wanyoike (Thika), Julius Karanu (Mt Kenya South) and Timothy Gichere (Mt Kenya Central) said they did not want to be dragged into political controversies.
Bishop Maina’s sentiments, they said, were not part of the agenda of the church leaders.
“The sentiments expressed by Bishop Maina were not part of the agenda of the church leaders and we are disturbed by the comments he has made against the Archbishop of the ACK,” the three said in a joint statement.
Bishop Maina had said the clerics would not heed Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit’s call for a stop of church harambees by politicians.
DP Ruto on the other hand has made it clear that nothing will stop him from helping the Churches and serving God.
“Since Sunday school we learned to kneel before and worship GOD that’s the ONLY reason we stand before men. We will continue to worship JEHOVAH with our hearts and substance. We are unashamed of our God & unapologetic of our faith. We are Christians first other title after,” Said Ruto.