On Sunday, October 6, Catholic bishops at Marian Shrine in Subukia, banned churchgoers from contributing wads of cash during fund drives in favour of cashless donations, in what they referred to as an attempt to fight corruption and demand accountability.
This decision, however, ruffled the feathers of many politicians and religious leaders, who sought to hold a different opinion concerning the controversial issue.
Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura, speaking on AM Live on NTV on Tuesday, October 8, insisted that the churches' decision to clamp down on harambees was a politically motivated decision.
Drawing from his experiences, he narrated that there was a time when church leaders approached him with an unexpected request after he announced his intention to fellowship with them.
He stated that he was taken aback after the pastor insisted that the senator needed to part with an undisclosed amount of money in order to be allowed to address the congregation.
"I did not give the money as requested, and they denied me a chance to speak that Sunday," Mwaura stated.
He further narrated that he made arrangements sometime later to visit the same church but still faced the same request. He again declined to contribute and the pastor subsequently denied him the chance to speak.
"This time, the congregation rose up in arms and booed the pastor for denying me the chance to address them," the politician recalled.
In the NTV morning show, he sensationally intimated that churches that were against donations from politicians were not doing it in good faith, but were instead being incited against the Deputy President William Ruto.
This, he alleged, was because DP Ruto was the only politician who received tens of letters every day from churches inviting him to fundraisers.
"The church must pronounce itself objectively and without looking like they are supporting a political agenda," he advised.
