Nairobi Catholic Archbishop Philip Anyolo has made headlines by rejecting significant donations from President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a church event.
Archbishop Anyolo emphasized that the Church would not accept political contributions, including cash donations of over Ksh 2.6 million and a promised bus, citing concerns over maintaining the Church’s independence and neutrality.
This decision aligns with the broader stance of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), which discourages political donations to avoid any perception of undue influence or self-promotion during church events.
In his statement, Archbishop Anyolo reiterated that the Church must remain a neutral entity focused on spiritual growth and community service rather than becoming entangled in political agendas.
He also called on leaders to prioritize addressing national challenges, including corruption, over-taxation, and unfulfilled campaign promises.
The rejection of these donations underscores rising tensions between the Catholic Church and the government, particularly over governance issues and unmet public expectations.
This bold move by the Archbishop sends a clear message about the Church’s commitment to integrity.
It also reflects broader societal concerns in Kenya about the influence of money in politics and governance.
The Church has urged leaders to shift from symbolic acts like donations to substantive action on pressing issues facing the Kenyan population.
“We returned everything, it is not the first time and we will continue doing it,” Nairobi Catholic Archbishop Anyolo on Ruto and Sakaja donations pic.twitter.com/418GZApRbZ
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 30, 2024
