Nairobi, Kenya – In a bold move, Kenya’s Catholic Church has returned a donation of 6 million Kenyan shillings (KSh) from President William Ruto, emphasizing its commitment to ethical standards and distancing itself from political influence.
The donation, made during a Sunday Mass at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi, included 2.6 million KSh in cash, with promises of the remaining amount and a bus for the parish.
President Ruto had intended the funds to support the construction of a priest’s house and as a gift for the church choir.
However, Archbishop Philip Anyolo of Nairobi announced that the Church would return the money and decline all pledges, citing concerns about political interference.
“The Catholic Church strongly discourages the use of church events as platforms for political self-promotion. Such actions breach our directives and contravene Kenyan law,” he stated.
The Archbishop also directed the return of a separate 200,000 KSh donation made by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who attended the same service.
This rejection comes in the wake of mounting criticism from Catholic bishops regarding the government’s perceived failure to deliver on its promises.
Last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops accused the government of fostering a “culture of lies” and raised concerns about over-taxation, corruption, unemployment, and deteriorating public services.
“Despite the calmness we are experiencing, there is a lot of anxiety, and most people are losing trust in the government,” the bishops noted in their statement.
The Church’s refusal of the funds has been welcomed by many Kenyans, who have criticized religious institutions for being too close to politicians.
Earlier this year, under the hashtag #OccupyChurch, young protesters accused churches of aligning with the government during protests over tax hikes.
President Ruto responded to the bishops’ criticism by cautioning religious leaders against spreading what he called misinformation.
His ally, Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, accused the clergy of peddling propaganda.
Despite the government’s pushback, the Catholic Church has found support from other denominations.
Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit endorsed the bishops’ stance, saying, “The bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth on the ground.”
Historically, Kenya’s churches have maintained close ties with political leaders, but recent events suggest a significant shift.
Three years ago, major denominations banned politicians from using pulpits as campaign platforms in exchange for donations.
The Catholic Church’s firm rejection of Ruto’s contribution underscores its commitment to breaking with this tradition and standing with the people.
As economic challenges and political discontent continue to mount, the Church’s decision sends a powerful message: its mission is to serve the people, not political interests.
This marks a turning point in Kenya’s church-state relations, reflecting a growing demand for accountability and integrity from all institutions.
