Azimio Leader Raila Odinga has launched a scathing attack on the Church leaders for propagating injustices in society.
Addressing the congregation at Nyamira Anglican Church at Kang’o Kajaramogi in Bondo, Raila said the church had failed to speak out against injustices.
Revisiting the last General Election, Raila claimed that what was witnessed at Bomas on August 15 when IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati announced the presidential results was shameful.
“We saw the church standing in front of the cameras trying to sanitise a very flawed process. We have seen some churches being turned into platforms for political agitations and campaigns. On Sundays, political leadership going to churches supposedly to pray, once the service is over they take over the church platform to vilify and insult some Kenyans and we have seen clergy sitting behind and cheering,” Raila stated.
According to the Azimio leader, a decision taken by one of the clergymen present at the Bomas of Kenya National Tallying Center to pray and back the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) results legitimatized the election process despite his sides’ reservations.
Odinga warned the leaders against allowing politicians to turn places of worship into centres of trading insults and hatred against rival leaders, arguing that such a move risked deviating the church from its main role.
He, instead, urged the clergy to exercise restraint from active politics and instead play their role in providing oversight, more so in condemning injustices.
“The church should act firmly against injustices. Am not giving blanket criticism against the church, but we have seen for example church leaders associating themselves with injustices of our country,” he added.
Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit was forced to intervene after a brawl ensued between supporters and officials from both political factions clashed at the tallying centre.
Raila’s remarks came at a time when President Willliam Ruto was under pressure over his close involvement of the church in government affairs since his ascension to power.
His stance was previously advanced by former Presidential aspirant Reuben Kigame who noted that the new administration had adopted a new trajectory where state functions were aligned with church practices.
“While we acknowledge the hand of God in bringing us this far, the presidency must observe Article 27 of the Constitution,” Kigame stated.
