The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has rejected a cash donation by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a church service at Soweto Catholic Church on Sunday.

On Sunday November 17, 2024, President Ruto attended a church service at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi accompanied by Governor Sakaja.

During the service, the president donated Ksh600,000 to the church choir while Governor Sakaja gave Sh200,000. 

At the same time, President Ruto donated Ksh2 million for the construction of the parish priest’s house.

The Head of State also promised to deliver a bus to the church in January 2025.

However, speaking on behalf of the Archdiocese, Archbishop Philip A. Anyolo emphasised the Church’s strong opposition to using its platforms for political gain.

Bishop Anyolo noted that the donated cash would be returned and the promised bus would not be accepted by the church.

The Bishops also rejected President Ruto’s Ksh. 3 million pledge for church construction.

He cited a directive by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) that banned such donations.

This was after the Archdiocese of Nairobi reaffirmed its commitment to the KCCB policy on political donations to the Church.

Meanwhile, KCCB in a statement delivered on November 14, 2024 and read in all churches within the Archdiocese on Sunday, November 17, 2024, emphasised the importance of preserving the Church’s independence and sanctity.

Archbishop Anyolo stated that the Catholic Church will maintain a firm stance on politicians’ donations, highlighting the Church’s need to safeguard itself from being used for political reasons.

In addition, he advised politicians not to use the pulpit for rhetoric, claiming that such actions jeopardise the sanctity of religious spaces.

Additionally, the Church urged political leaders to focus on critical national issues such as corruption, human rights violations, unfulfilled  promises and overtaxation.