Kenya’s Catholic Bishops “concerned about loudspeaker donations”, Maintain Stance against Church Grants “for publicity”

Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba. Credit: Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops/Rose Achiego

The KCCB Chairman however clarified that the Church is not against donations, noting that evangelization has always relied on the generosity of the people.

He however made it clear that acts of goodwill should not be publicized. “I just want to clarify that since the beginning, the Church has always depended on donations. Since the time of Jesus Christ, the ministry of Jesus was supported heavily by donations,” Archbishop Muhatia said, noting that in the Apostolic age, the apostles “depended heavily” on donations for the ministry given them by Jesus Christ. 

“The Church, since time immemorial, depends on the goodwill of men and women in this work of evangelization,” he said, and reiterated, “We don’t refuse donations; we don’t reject donations. We are saying, ‘good must be done well in silence.’”

President William Samoei Ruto’s donations to churches in Kenya have sparked controversy, with many arguing that the donations are meant to silence the church amid rot in government. The Kenyan President’s donations of millions of Kenya Shillings (hundreds of thousands of US Dollars) and pledges for much more churches have been faulted. In fact, his donation of KES 20 million (US$154,000) to Jesus Winner Ministry in Nairobi became chaotic, when some young people invaded the church and had to be dispersed by tear gas.

Kenya’s Catholic Bishops have consistently maintained a firm stance on the matter of politicians donating money to churches, highlighting the ethical concerns and the need to safeguard the Church from being used for political purposes.

Credit: Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops/Rose Achiego

In November 2024, Archbishop Philip Anyolo Subira of Kenya’s Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN) turned down financial donations that President Ruto offered to a Catholic Parish in his Metropolitan See, noting that the Church would not be compromised by offers from politicians, who seek to use church fundraising events for self-gain.

In a strict message, Archbishop Anyolo said the Catholic Church “strongly discourages the use of church events such as fundraisers and gatherings as platforms for political self-promotion.”

He added, “Politicians are urged to refrain from turning the pulpit into a stage for political rhetoric, as such actions undermine the sanctity of worship spaces.”

Meanwhile, Archbishop Anyolo has urged Catholics in Kenya to be on the frontline in the fight against corruption in the East African country.

In his March 19 address, the Kenyan Catholic Archbishop reflected on the theme of the 2025 Lenten Campaign in Kenya, “The Kenya We Desire”, saying, “The conference of Bishops is inviting all Kenyans and especially all Catholic Kenyans to take the front seat in making it possible for us to achieve the Kenya we desire.”

“We are, during this period, reflecting on a number of themes to help us in our journey towards the Kenya we desire,” he said.

Archbishop Anyolo said that as Catholics in Kenya reflect on the theme of corruption, they must “take the front seat” in the fight against the vice.

“It is our responsibility as the body of the Church to fight against corruption, knowing only too well the damage it causes to society and the suffering it brings to many of our brothers and sisters,” he said, and added, “Let us all join hands in this campaign as we walk together as men and women of the same faith, men and women belonging to the same country.”

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Credit: Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops/Rose Achiego

The newly Consecrated Coadjutor Bishop of Meru was appointed on January 16.

The Kenyan member of the Institute of the Consolata Missionaries (IMC) served as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Consolata Shrine in Kenya’s ADN before his appointment to assist 74-year-old Bishop Salesius Mugambi in shepherding the people of God in the Kenyan Episcopal See that was erected from Apostolic Vicariate of Kenya to Apostolic Prefecture of Meru in March 1926.

The Kenyan Diocese, which measures 9,546 square kilometers, was elevated from an Apostolic Prefecture of Meru to the Diocese of Meru in May 1953. It is part of Nyeri Metropolitan See, and has a population of 1,085,500 Catholics representing 31.1 percent of the total population in the Diocese; it has 85 Parishes, 220 Priests, 72 men Religious, and 432 women Religious., according to 2023 statistics.