The Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) has broken from the stance taken by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) to reject all donations made by politicians. The church has come out in support of donations that have stirred controversy, saying 'refunding the money just because it is politicians is not valid enough.'
The church has stated that it will continue working with the political class, welcoming politicians to its 3,000 branches across the country. This is despite the public backlash Christian churches have received concerning this. Many Kenyans have claimed that the donations raise ethical issues that can stain the image of the Church in Kenya.
This communication was issued by the church leadership in Mtwapa FEFA church in Mombasa on Friday. The clergy argued that determining the sources of the political donations would be difficult without the necessary structure and framework. Many netizens have claimed the majority of the donations are proceeds of graft that is rampant in Kenya.
“As the PEFA church, we cannot return the political donations unless we put in place measures to determine the sources of the contributions. Returning or refunding just because it is from politicians is not valid enough,” one of the leaders stated.
The church further urged politicians who visit the churches to make their donations subtly so as not to attract much public attention.
“We appreciate the contributions, but we urge the politicians to make their donations discreetly and as an offertory. As PEFA, we will use these donations to do the work of God,” the church leader added.
Their position comes amidst the Catholic and Anglican churches issuing directives to their churches to cease taking monetary contributions from politicians and directing particular branches to return the political donations.
The debate surrounding political donations in churches began on November 19, when the Catholic Church directed clergy at the Soweto Catholic Church to return Ksh5.8 million from President William Ruto.
President Ruto donated Ksh600,000 to Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi for choir members and Ksh2 million that would be used to construct the father’s house. He further promised to donate an additional Ksh3 million that would be channeled to the church’s account to purchase a church bus. During the event, Governor Sakaja donated Ksh200,000 to the same church.
While issuing the directive, Catholic Bishop Philip Anyolo cited that the donations contravened the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024, which states that any person who solicits or receives money or a benefit conducts a fundraising appeal regardless of whether the representation made was direct or indirect.
On Tuesday, December 3, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, Jackson Ole Sapit, directed a Bungoma bishop who received Ksh5 million from Ruto on Sunday, December 1, to return the money. The donation was made on behalf of Ruto by Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka.
Sapit claimed that the donation was an attempt to shame the Anglican church and issued an apology, adding that the church would not accept funds whose sources are 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 stated.
At the same time, Ruto has vowed to continue with the donations arguing that it is a service to God. “We are going to serve God through our giving. We have absolutely no apologies to make as we give to God,” Ruto asserted, dismissing critics.
