Kenyan Catholic Church rejects President Ruto's financial donation

NAIROBI, Kenya (OSV News) -- A disagreement between the Catholic bishops in Kenya and the government has taken a new twist, with the church rejecting a $40,000 donation from President William Ruto.

The president made the donation on Nov. 17, at a Sunday Mass in a parish church in Kayole-Soweto, an informal settlement in the capital, Nairobi. Ruto had given the church $20,000 in cash, promising the rest, and a parish bus, later.

Part of the funds were to be used for the construction of a parish rectory, while some were a gift to the church choir and the parish missionary council.

But on Nov. 18, Archbishop Philip Subira Anyolo of Nairobi said the money will be refunded, since the donation had violated the church directives and the country's law on fundraising, which required a permit.

"These funds will be refunded to the respective donors. Furthermore, the promised additional Kenya Shillings 3 million ($23,000) for the construction of the Fathers' house, as well as the donation of a parish bus by the president, are hereby declined," Archbishop Anyolo said in a Nov. 18 statement.

The archbishop cited the bishops' firm stance on financial donation to churches by politicians, over ethical concerns and the "need to safeguard the church from being used for political purposes." The archbishop added that the church strongly discourages the use of church events such as fundraisers and gatherings as "platforms for political self-promotion."

The church "is called to uphold integrity by refusing contributions that may inadvertently compromise its independence or facilitate unjust enrichment," said Archbishop Anyolo.

Church data indicates that there are 18 million baptized Catholics in Kenya, or 40% of the country's population.

On Nov. 14, the Kenyan bishops' conference issued a hard-hitting statement in which they accused the government of thriving on a "culture of lies," with a "selfish agenda" forcing young people to fight "the monster of corruption," and misplacing priorities and disregarding the human rights of the ordinary people.

The bishops accused the government of over-taxing the citizens, violating human rights, choking freedom of speech, failing to tackle employment and disorganizing education and health systems.

"The massive greed we are witnessing is shocking and heart breaking … We are appalled by the blatant recurring incidents of reported abductions, disappearances, torture and killings of Kenyans," said Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Kisumu, president of the country's bishops' conference, in a Nov. 14 statement. "The culture of lies is swiftly replacing the integrity and respect that Kenyans deserve. Basically, it seems that truth does not exist, and if it does, it is only what the Government says."

The government did not take the criticisms by the bishops kindly and quickly released a series of statements accusing the bishops of "misleading" the public.

The bishops concluded their Nov. 14 statement: "We invite all Kenyans and all people of faith to prayer, especially when we see that the tentacles of evil seem to be seizing our Nation."