The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has rejected donations from President William Ruto and Governor Johnson Sakaja, citing the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops' (KCCB) policy against accepting political donations.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi has declined donations made by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a church service at Soweto Catholic Church on Sunday.

President Ruto made significant contributions, including a donation of Sh600,000 to the church choir, Sh2 million towards the construction of a house for the parish priest, and a pledge to donate an additional Sh3 million for the same project. Additionally, he promised to provide a bus to the church in January. Governor Sakaja also contributed Sh200,000 during the service.

However, Archbishop Philip Anyolo announced that these funds and pledges would not be accepted, citing a policy by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) that prohibits the Catholic Church from accepting political donations.

“These funds will be returned to the respective donors, and the promised bus will not be accepted,” stated Archbishop Anyolo. He emphasized that the Catholic Church must remain independent from political influence in order to preserve its integrity and continue to serve as a neutral space for spiritual guidance and community development.

Archbishop Anyolo further urged politicians to focus on ethical leadership, highlighting the need for attention to critical issues raised by the KCCB, such as the country's economic challenges and the growing problem of insecurity.

This development follows a recent statement by the KCCB, which criticized the government for failing to fulfill its campaign promises and for introducing what the bishops described as “unreasonable” taxes.

At a press briefing in Nairobi last Thursday, the bishops accused the government of overburdening citizens with excessive taxation, which they argued was a covert effort to reintroduce the contested Finance Bill of 2024.

“It seems like a hidden way to bring back the Finance Bill. The current tax regime is already prohibitive and burdensome for Kenyans,” said Bishop Maurice Muhatia.

In addition to their concerns about taxation, the bishops raised alarms about the increasing incidences of abductions, disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. They urged the government to address these issues, as many families continue to seek justice for loved ones who have been affected during recent demonstrations.