The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), Jackson Ole Sapit, has issued a directive barring politicians from addressing congregants during church services. This move aims to restore the sanctity of worship and prevent the politicization of the pulpit.
Speaking at St. Stephen’s Cathedral on Sunday, Archbishop Ole Sapit emphasized that while politicians are welcome to attend church services, their speeches must be delivered outside the sanctuary. He clarified that their presence would still be acknowledged, allowing them to stand and wave to the congregation but without the opportunity to make public addresses inside the church.
“When the time comes for acknowledging all those who have come, we will do that. But I want to give direction that from today henceforth, in any Anglican congregation, there will be no opportunity for any political leader to have a speech in the Church,” Ole Sapit declared.
The archbishop also announced a new policy regarding church offerings, stating that offertory contributions would no longer be publicly announced. He encouraged congregants to give as they feel led by God without seeking public recognition. “We have already declared and we want to declare today that giving in the Anglican Church will not be announced. Just give as God directs you to give. What we give to God we don’t have to tell human beings what we have given him,” he added.
The pronouncement was made in the presence of several prominent politicians, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some leaders and Kenyans supporting it as a necessary measure to separate politics from religion, while others view it as a restriction on leaders’ ability to engage with their communities.
This is not the first time churches in Kenya have taken such a stance. In September 2021, Catholic bishops also prohibited politicians from using their pulpits to advance political agendas, reinforcing the principle that places of worship should remain neutral ground for spiritual reflection rather than political platforms.
