Why Anglican church leaders are angry with Nyanza politicians

Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) clerics from Nyanza have stirred a hornet’s nest with a surprise criticism of local politicians in what has now sparked a row among local church leaders.

While the ACK clerics say they will no longer keep quiet about political, social and economic issues affecting the region, local leaders and a group of pastors say it was wrong for the church to attack the politicians over alleged poor development in the area.

Last week’s attack on local politicians by four ACK bishops brought back memories of the 1980s and 90s when the church gave political leaders sleepless nights with frequent criticism.

During their heyday, church leaders of yore, the likes of ACK bishops Henry Okullu, Alexander Muge and Manases Kuria, became a thorn in the flesh for the Kanu government.

Before the introduction of multi-party politics, the church leaders issued hard hitting statements as they kept watch on the government. Then there was a lull, especially after Kanu lost power in 2002.

But last week, four clergymen emerged from their comfort zones with a stinging attack on the political leadership in the region, warning that it would not be business as usual.

Southern Nyanza Diocese Bishop Rev James Ochiel, set the ball rolling when he accused the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of imposing leaders on the electorate each election year.

He was later joined by bishops Mwai Abiero (Maseno South), Joshua Owiti (Maseno East) and Dr David Kodia (Bondo). They said political leaders must take responsibility for the slow-pace development.

DEVASTATING POVERTY

The church leaders said they will not be cowed against talking politics of development aimed at transforming lives and the people’s welfare.

Ochiel said leaders being imposed on the people by ODM is the reason for “devastating poverty” in the region.

But this statement has now stoked controversy, with some clerics saying Rev Ochiel was acting beyond his religious mandate or call.

Interdenominational Churches Council Nyanza Chairman Archbishop Washington Ngede dismisses the Ochiel’s statement as outrageous.

“The church must not meddle in partisan politics. We must not tell people who or what party to vote for, unless the party in question has an intrinsically evil ideology,” he says. “Our mission and vision as a church is supernatural to lead people to Christ.”

He says the ACK does not have the right to impose its own “ecclesiastical laws” on the rest of society that is not Anglican, “for each person follows their will”.

And this difference among the clerics now also threatens the churches council, with Ochiel saying they are only bound by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and not any other.

He says, “Ngede’s council is amorphous”.

Bishops Abiero, Kodia and Owiti say they are inspired by revelation and have a stake in the realisation of social, political and economic justice.

They say religious teachings that promote options for the poor should not be condemned.

WISE LEADERSHIP

“Without wise leadership, a nation is in trouble, but with good Biblical counsellors there is safety,” says Owiti, quoting Proverbs 11:14.

ODM leaders have also defended the party against claims that it is undemocratic and anti-development.

Party Chairman John Mbadi says it was wrong for the church leaders to heap blame on the party leadership, saying development challenges faced the region long before ODM was formed.