Baringo County Woman Representative, Florence Jematiah, has issued a public apology after facing backlash over controversial remarks she made regarding the church’s involvement in political matters. The apology came after her tweet calling on the church to “respect the authority in power” and “stop demeaning the Government” sparked widespread criticism from Kenyans who felt it undermined the church’s role in society.
On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Jematiah posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) urging religious institutions to focus on their spiritual mission, rather than getting involved in political discourse. She wrote: “The church should respect the authority in power. Stop demeaning the Government and unnecessarily inciting other denominations. Churches should do their work of Hope and Faith to the believers.”
This statement quickly attracted a wave of criticism, with many Kenyans feeling that it was an attempt to silence the church’s independent voice, particularly when it comes to speaking out on political matters. Critics argued that the church, as a fundamental institution in society, has a duty to hold the government accountable and provide moral guidance, especially in times of political unrest or perceived wrongdoing.
A notable response came from a social media user named Samora M, who rebuked Jematiah’s stance, writing: “Can you also advise your fellow politicians that the church is a house of worship and they must never seek to speak to the congregation who leave their homes to go and pray not to listen to politicians? You people should organise your own political platforms outside the church.” This response echoed the concerns of many who believe that politicians should keep their agendas separate from religious activities.
Recognizing the controversy surrounding her tweet, Jematiah swiftly responded on Wednesday, retracting her earlier comments and offering an apology. She acknowledged the concerns raised by Kenyans and expressed her agreement with the view that the church should be allowed to carry out its religious duties without interference. In her apology, she tweeted: “Hello Kenyans, I have gone through all the comments on my previous post about Churches. I hereby withdraw my statement and apologise. I had to agree with you all that churches should be left to do their work and can include oversight because believers are citizens.”
This apology came in the wake of another significant event involving the church’s relationship with politics. Just days earlier, the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi made headlines for rejecting a large donation made by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during a church service at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi on Sunday, November 17, 2024.
During the service, Ruto and Sakaja made substantial contributions, with the president gifting Sh600,000 to the church choir and pledging Sh5 million toward the construction of a house for the parish priest. He also promised to deliver a bus to the church in January. Sakaja, meanwhile, contributed Sh200,000.
However, the Nairobi Archdiocese, led by Bishop Philip Anyolo, firmly rejected the donations, following a directive from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops that prohibits churches from accepting financial gifts from politicians. Bishop Anyolo explained that this policy was meant to prevent political influence within the church, ensuring its independence from any form of partisan interference. The archdiocese maintained that accepting such donations could compromise the church’s role as a moral compass and its ability to speak freely on issues affecting society.
In a statement, Bishop Anyolo remarked, “The Nairobi Church will maintain a firm stance on politicians’ donations, highlighting the Church’s need to safeguard itself from being used for political purposes.” The church’s stance underscores its commitment to remaining neutral in the political sphere, while still playing an active role in advocating for the well-being of its congregants and the nation.
This series of events highlights the growing tension between religion and politics in Kenya, with many religious leaders emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clear boundary between the two. While politicians, including President Ruto, continue to make public displays of charity towards religious institutions, church leaders are becoming increasingly cautious about accepting such gifts, fearing that they could be perceived as political manipulation. In turn, lawmakers like Jematiah are finding themselves at the center of debates on the role of the church in shaping public discourse, leading to reflections on how religion and governance can coexist without overstepping each other’s boundaries.
As the apology from Jematiah and the rejection of political donations by the Nairobi Archdiocese demonstrate, there is a growing call for both politicians and religious institutions to recognize and respect each other’s independence, ensuring that both can contribute positively to the development of the country without compromising their core values.
