In an unprecedented move, the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has declined cash donations totaling made by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a Sunday service at Soweto Catholic Church.
The decision, announced on Monday, November 19, follows a week-long backlash after the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) strongly criticized the government.
Controversial donations
During a church service on Sunday, President Ruto donated Ksh.600,000 to the Soweto Catholic Church choir and pledging an additional Ksh.2 million for the construction of a priest’s residence.
He also promised Ksh.3 million for a church bus, while Governor Sakaja contributed Ksh.200,000. However, in a surprising turn of events, Archbishop Philip Anyolo ordered the immediate return of the funds donated by the two leaders.
“These funds will be refunded to the respective donors,” Bishop Anyolo stated. “Furthermore, the promised additional Ksh.3 million and the donation of a parish bus are hereby declined.”
He added that the Catholic Church is bound by the principles outlined in the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024, which prohibits contributions that might blur the line between politics and spirituality.
This legislation prohibits any solicitation or acceptance of donations from political figures to ensure that churches remain free from political influence.
Church standing its ground
Bishop Anyolo emphasized that accepting such donations could compromise the Church’s integrity and independence. He highlighted concerns regarding the use of religious gatherings as platforms for political self-promotion, urging politicians to focus on easing the burden of taxes on Kenyans rather than leveraging church events for personal gain.
During a press conference last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops openly criticized government policies, particularly concerning taxation, human rights violations, and unfulfilled campaign promises. The Catholic Bishops condemned various government actions, labeling them as oppressive and detrimental to ordinary citizens
The archbishop also reiterated concerns that churches risk becoming platforms for political theater rather than sanctuaries of worship. “The pulpit is sacred. It must not be reduced to a stage for political rhetoric,” Anyolo said, warning against donations that could compromise the independence of the Church.
Rising public pressure
Earlier on Monday, a wave of social media outrage led to calls for the Soweto Catholic Church to return the Ksh.5.8 million donation, saying that accepting money from politicians undermines the Church’s moral authority and detaches it from its spiritual mission.
Activists and concerned citizens flooded the archbishop’s office with messages denouncing the perceived conflict of interest in accepting political contributions. Critics argued that such donations often come with strings attached, undermining the moral authority of religious institutions.