- On Tuesday, the chairman of the movement, Archbishop Wambu Waweru, said the church will not be able to differentiate clean from contaminated money.
- Waweru said they are behind President Kenyatta and that they affirm his words against church donations.
Members of the clergy are still divided on whether to continue receiving money from politicians or not. https://bit.ly/3MglVzm
Image: STANLEY NJENGA
Members of the clergy are still divided on whether to continue receiving money from politicians or not.
Some members under an organisation dubbed Sagana 3 clergy movement were reacting to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s speech at Sagana State Lodge on February 23.
Uhuru faulted church leaders for taking alleged corruption money from politicians in reference to his deputy, William Ruto.
“Some of the church leaders have been compromised by huge donations donated by corrupt leaders,” he said.
“The money you are receiving is the same money that was to build dams in Elgeyo Marakwet so that God’s children can get water,” he added.
On Tuesday, the chairman of the movement, Archbishop Wambu Waweru, said the church will not be able to differentiate clean from contaminated money.
Waweru said they are behind President Kenyatta and that they affirm his words against church donations.
“We want the President to know we are behind him and we respect him. The church cannot be separated, we have not sent anyone like a politician to go and discuss our issues,” Waweru said.
However, the tune changed from this to the sentiments that whoever takes money does so as an individual and not as the church.
“I have not said it is wrong because there are those who have received but they didn’t know what money they were receiving. So individuals can not cost a whole church,” he added.
The bishop further added that the church will receive, but pray for money that they think is contaminated.
“Money that comes in large sums and we have questions about it, we will pray for it for God to show us where it is coming from,” he said.
Organisation secretary Archbishop Joseph Wambugu said it’s not up to the church to differentiate what money to take and which one to reject.
“If today we have two rivers joining River Tana together, can you differentiate the waters of Tana and those from the other river? No, that is simple mathematics,” Wambugu said.
Bishop Gathoni Kirima said the money that is seen as bad will not be rejected because everyone belongs to the church and are welcome to the House of God.
However, she requested politicians with questionable wealth to reconsider before donating.
“You cannot come to the church empty-handed, but still you have to be clear on the source of your income,” Kirima said.
Aspiring candidates have been barred from donating money to harambee and churches.
The move was influenced by the Elections Act that bars politicians from contributing to fundraising activities after the gazettement of the election date.