The Catholic Church in Kenya has declined a donation of $40,000 (about 2.6 million Kenyan shillings) from President William Ruto.
The money, meant to support the building of a priest’s house and as a gift to the church choir, was offered during a Sunday Mass at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi.
The rejection came after recent criticism by Catholic bishops, who accused the government of failing to deliver on its election promises. Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi announced the decision to return the money, citing “ethical concerns” and the need to avoid using the church for political purposes.
The Archbishop also refused other pledges by President Ruto, including the promise of a bus, as well as a separate donation of 200,000 Kenyan shillings from Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who attended the same service.
Archbishop Anyolo emphasized that the church discourages the use of religious gatherings as platforms for political promotion. He stated that such donations violate both church rules and Kenyan laws.
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Kenya has a long history of close ties between the church and political leaders, but this relationship is under strain.
In recent years, major churches banned politicians from addressing congregations during services in exchange for donations.
Public criticism of the church has grown, especially among young Kenyans, who accuse religious institutions of supporting the government’s controversial policies, including new tax proposals earlier this year.
Protests under the social media hashtag #OccupyChurch highlighted frustration with churches perceived as siding with the government.
Last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a strong statement accusing the government of spreading lies, failing to address corruption, over-taxing citizens, and neglecting education and healthcare systems.
In response, President Ruto warned the clergy to avoid misinformation, while a government senator, Aaron Cheruiyot, accused the bishops of spreading “propaganda.”
Despite these tensions, Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit supported the Catholic bishops, stating they had voiced the concerns of many Kenyans. “The (Catholic) bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth as things are on the ground,” he said.
