Catholic bishops reject Ruto’s Sh12.3m donation, urge action on corruption
The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has turned down a donation of Sh12.3 million from President William Ruto, citing its policy of not accepting financial contributions from political leaders.
Archbishop Philip Anyolo confirmed on Monday that the Sh12.3 million donation from President William Ruto would be returned. The funds, which were donated on Sunday, November 17, had been allocated to the Soweto Catholic Church Choir, the Parish Missionary Council, and the construction of a residence for the parish priest.
During the church service, President Ruto contributed Ksh600,000 (Sh12.3 million), with an additional Sh2 million earmarked for the priest’s house. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja also donated Ksh200,000 (Sh4.1 million) for the same cause.
In addition, the President has pledged to purchase a parish bus and promised an additional Ksh3 million (Sh61.6 million) for the construction of the priest’s residence.
However, the donations have sparked mixed reactions, with the Catholic Church reiterating its policy against the politicization of religious spaces. Archbishop Anyolo emphasized that the Church discourages using fundraisers and church events for political self-promotion, urging politicians to avoid turning the pulpit into a platform for political rhetoric, as it undermines the sanctity of worship spaces.
The Archbishop also called on the Church to maintain its independence and integrity by rejecting donations that could compromise its neutrality or lead to unjust enrichment. He urged political leaders to focus on addressing critical issues, such as corruption, human rights abuses, political tensions, and freedom of expression, as outlined by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB).
Last Thursday, the KCCB had criticized President Ruto’s government for fostering a “culture of lies” and using state machinery to silence dissent. However, Archbishop Anyolo clarified that while politicians are welcome to attend church as ordinary Christians seeking spiritual nourishment, they must refrain from using their positions for political gain.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
