ODM leader Raila Odinga has supported the recent move by churches to ban politics from places of worship.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 16, in Limuru during the burial of Grace Muthoni, a sister to George Gichini who is an ODM official in Kiambu County, the former Prime Minister said churches are holy places adding that political rhetoric should be done outside.
“I say a big thank you to the church for standing for truth and equality and I support the archbishop on this. The church should not be a place for doing politics. Political utterances should be made outside the church,’’ Rails said.
No politician was permitted to speak during the said funeral service which was held at the PCEA church in Thing’ati.
On Wednesday, September 15, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) announced that no politician will be recognised during church services.
In a statement to the newsroom, KCCB incoming Chairperson Archbishop Martin Kivuva said places of worship are sacred and will no longer be platforms for mobilizing political support.
“We wish to firmly state again that our places of worship and liturgy are sacred and should not serve as political arenas,
“The Church is above politics. Consequently, we as clergy, and especially the priests, are to ensure that places of worship are not used by leaders to further their political agenda,” Kivuva declared.
He made the declarations barely days after the Anglican Church banned political utterances in church.
Speaking on Sunday, September 12, during the consecration of Rose Okeno as the Bishop of the Butere Diocese in Kakamega County, the Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit said political leaders had violated the sacred nature of the altar.
“And from today onwards, I have banned politicians from speaking inside the Anglican Church. Even if you (the media) put your cameras there, they will not speak,” Sapit reiterated.
