{"id":252762,"date":"2024-11-19T12:49:45","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T12:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/11\/19\/catholic-church-rejects-40000-from-kenyas-president\/"},"modified":"2024-11-19T12:49:45","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T12:49:45","slug":"catholic-church-rejects-40000-from-kenyas-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2024\/11\/19\/catholic-church-rejects-40000-from-kenyas-president\/","title":{"rendered":"Catholic Church rejects $40,000 from Kenya’s president"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Archbishop Archbishop of Nairobi Philip Anyolo said the cash would be returned and declined other pledges<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Kenya\u2019s Catholic Church has rejected a donation of about $40,000 (\u00a332,000) made by President William Ruto.<\/p>\n

He offered the money towards the building of a priest\u2019s house and as a gift to the choir during Mass on Sunday at the Soweto Catholic Church in the capital, Nairobi.<\/p>\n

The donation followed a recent statement by Catholic bishops, who had hit out at the government for failing to fulfil their electoral promises.<\/p>\n

Churches have been under pressure this year from young anti-tax protesters who have accused them of being too close to politicians.<\/p>\n

Following Ruto\u2019s much-publicised donation on Sunday, many Kenyans urged the Catholic Church to reject the money.<\/p>\n

The president had given around 2.6m Kenyan shillings ($20,000, \u00a316,000) in cash, pledged the rest of the money later and also promised to give the parish a bus.<\/p>\n

The Catholic Archbishop of Nairobi, Philip Anyolo, said the cash would be returned over “ethical concerns and the need to safeguard the Church from being used for political purposes”.<\/p>\n

He also declined his other pledges and said a donation of 200,000 Kenyan shillings made by the Governor of Nairobi, Johnson Sakaja – who attended the same service, was also being handed back.<\/p>\n

“The Catholic Church strongly discourages the use of church events such as fundraisers and gatherings as platforms for political self-promotion,” Archbishop Anyolo said<\/p>\n

Such donations were in breach of the church directives as well as the Kenyan law, he added.<\/p>\n

The long ties between churches and political institutions – in a country where more than 80% of the population are Christian – seem to be fraying.<\/p>\n

Three years ago, established churches banned politicians from using the pulpit during services in return for donations.<\/p>\n

But the relationship was still perceived to be close – with young demonstrators accusing the churches of siding with the government when it decided to impose new taxes earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Under the social media hashtag #OccupyChurch, many hit out at the churches for failing to take their side during the deadly protests that erupted in response to the planned tax hikes.<\/p>\n

The uproar forced President\u2019s Ruto\u2019s government to withdraw the controversial finance bill in July.<\/p>\n

Then last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops – which represents all Catholic bishops in the country – accused the government of perpetuating a “culture of lies”.<\/p>\n

In a scathing statement, it also raised issues about over-taxation, corruption, violation of human rights, freedom of speech, unemployment as well as a “crumbling” education system and healthcare services.<\/p>\n

“Despite the calmness we are experiencing, there is a lot of anxiety and most people are losing trust in the government,” it said.<\/p>\n

In response, President Ruto appeared hit back at the clergy, saying “we must be careful to give factual information lest we become victims of the things we accuse others of doing”.<\/p>\n

A senator allied to government, Aaron Cheruiyot, also accused the church of “misinformation”, adding that the “clergy must avoid being purveyors of propaganda, fake news and falsehoods”.<\/p>\n

Many of Kenya\u2019s Christians are Catholic – estimated to number 10 million, about 20% of the population, according to government statistics.<\/p>\n

Other Christians belong to a variety of evangelical churches and other denominations, including the Anglican Church of Kenya – which has defended the Catholic Church\u2019s position.<\/p>\n

Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit said the Catholic bishops had reflected the feelings of many Kenyans.<\/p>\n

“Calling church leaders names or dismissing the bishops’ statement as \u2018misleading, erroneous and false,\u2019 is itself dishonest,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The [Catholic] bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth as things are on the ground.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Archbishop of Nairobi Philip Anyolo said the cash would be returned and declined other pledges Kenya\u2019s Catholic Church has rejected a donation of about $40,000 (\u00a332,000) made by President William Ruto. 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