Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi has hit out at Catholic bishops after they rejected donations from President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, escalating tensions between the church and political leaders.
Speaking on November 19, 2024, Sudi accused the bishops of preventing politicians from supporting church development projects, insisting that elected leaders are often invited by congregants seeking financial assistance.
“Some of you in authority are opposing the good work we are doing. People leave churches because of constant fundraising pressures. If we have made mistakes, we apologize—but we will not stop giving our tithes or attending church,” Sudi said.
The MP also criticized the clergy for what he described as selective scrutiny of government actions, accusing them of highlighting failures while ignoring positive achievements by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
His remarks followed a strongly-worded statement issued on November 14 by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), in which the bishops expressed concern over governance issues under President Ruto’s leadership.
In response, ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit defended the Catholic bishops and dismissed counter-attacks from government allies. He emphasized that the church would not be silenced and would continue speaking out against wrongdoing regardless of political pressure.
The clash underscores the growing friction between religious leaders and government officials as churches tighten their stance on political involvement and financial influence.
