Raila: I’m not against the church, donations

Bishop Garison Okech, retired Citam bishop Boniface Adoyo and ODM leader Raila Odinga, at Ufungamano House in Nairobi yesterday. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

ODM leader Raila Odinga yesterday pushed back against accusations he was against the church.

Raila told religious leaders at Ufungamano House in Nairobi that he is a devout Christian and had survived numerous tribulations, among them political detention and family tragedy, on account of God’s mercies and miracles.

He pleaded with religious leaders to support his cause to amend the Constitution.

Raila recalled trials he had faced, from detention to losses in his own family, as he dismissed ‘holier than thou’ people he said were questioning his belief in God.

“So many times, I’m left speechless when holier than thou members of our country say Raila Odinga does not believe in God,” he said.

Raila said an elaborate message had been crafted to paint him as a leader who is against the independence of the church and its funding from donations and offerings.

The former premier has been a critic of Deputy President William Ruto’s donations to churches, often accusing the DP of using the church to cleanse riches he claims is ill-gotten.

The DP has questioned Raila’s faith and accused him of attempting to stop the church from raising funds.

Yesterday, Raila said he understood the church needs to fund its activities and that his intention was not to come between the church and its offerings and donations.

“I agree totally that churches need to be empowered to deal with their people spiritually. We will be the last people to try and stop the church from getting some funding. That is a very unfounded allegation against us. We want the church to be even more empowered,” Raila said.

While Raila maintains that politicians were donating proceeds of corruption to churches in exchange for political support, he tempered his message yesterday, saying the church should accept the money but avoid praising the giver.

“There is nothing wrong with going to church and contributing. What we are talking about is using the church as a platform for political campaigns disguised as being a friend of the church, then being praised as god-fearing people,” he said.

Rather, he said, the church should receive the money but keep their gratitude. “I know it is a fairly tricky issue because when someone gives, you need to say thank you. Let it not be used to praise the giver.” 

Raila was meeting religious leader in Nairobi to get their support in the law review to be undertaken through the Building Bridges Initiative.

He called for partnership with the church, acknowledging the power religious organisations hold in convincing their faithful to support BBI. He said the document guarantees religious freedom.

The meeting was dominated by calls for government assurance it will not push laws to regulate churches in Kenya

“The government should not interfere with the resources of the church. It should also not be concerned with the level of preachers’ education,” Bishop Chris Ogola said.

Bishop Kepha Omae, of Liberty Christian Centre, said the church should be allowed to self-regulate. “There has been talk of regulating the church in Kenya. We want a clause in BBI assuring us of self-regulation."