Kenya's flock does not believe in their shepherds, survey

An overwhelming majority of Kenyans do not trust their religious leaders and do not even see them as role models, a new survey has shown.

Despite majority of Kenyans identifying themselves as religious, either as Christians or Muslims, only one per cent of those who were polled by Tifa, a market research company, chose their pastors as their most admired personalities.

It is a damning verdict, given that nine out of every 10 Kenyans, according to a 2016 survey by an American think-tank Pew Research Centre, said religion was a very important aspect of their lives.

Instead, most Kenyans admire politicians, such as President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan athlete and the marathon world record holder, is another darling of the public.

Could the popularity of the church have been affected by the frequent scandals that men and women of the cloth find themselves in? That’s the question for the shepherd and flock in the New Year.