The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), Jackson Ole Sapit, has directed the Bungoma bishop who accepted President William Ruto's Ksh5 million donation to return the money.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, December 3, Sapit claimed the donation made by Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka on behalf of the Head of State was an attempt to shame the Anglican Church.
While apologising for the incident, Sapit termed the move unfortunate adding that the Anglican church would not accept donations whose sources were unknown.
“What happened in Bungoma was unfortunate because it was like a display of trying to see what the Anglican church will do following the recent decision by the Catholics,” the archbishop said.
President Ruto on Sunday, December 1, donated Ksh5 million to Crispinus Anglican Church in Bungoma sparking debate about the continuous donations by politicians to churches.
The money was handed to the church by Governor Lusaka who urged the church to accept the money saying there was nothing inappropriate about leaders supporting the work of the Church.
"There is nothing wrong with leaders donating money for God's work. I hope the money won't be returned to me," Governor Lusaka said while handing the money to the Bugoma Anglican bishop.
Meanwhile, during yesterday’s press briefing by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Ole Sapit urged Kenyans to shun the culture of celebrating corrupt politicians.
He further called on Kenyans to reject any donations by politicians and their appointees alleging that most of the money that was being donated by the political leaders was from stolen taxes.
"I want to encourage all of us, as Kenyans to reject contributions by politician leaders and their appointees knowing that most of the money given was from stolen taxes," Sapit said.
"We must stop celebrating whenever the president, governors, MPs, and other political leaders donate money whose source was not clear," the archbishop added.
His sentiments come hardly a fortnight after the Catholic church rejected Ksh5 million donated by President Ruto to a church in Kayole, Nairobi County.
According to Catholic Bishop Philip Anyolo, the donation contravened the Constitution on fundraising and the church's directives.
