Archbishop Anyolo: ‘The cars are not Personal, they are still in church’

Kisumu Catholic Archdiocese Archbishop Philip Subira Anyolo received a wide range of gifts during his official installation ceremony held at the Uzima University College Grounds in Kisumu. Among leaders who showered him with gifts was Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o through his County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for finance Nerry Achar. The Governor presented the Bishop with a symbolic key to the City of Kisumu.

Archbishop Philip Anyolo now says gifts he received on behalf of the Catholic Church after he was installed as the head of Kisumu archdiocese including two cars are still with the church. He emphasised on Sunday evening the gifts belong to the church. On Sunday, MP Wamalwa waded into the debate saying as the Chairman of Catholic MPs, he lobbied colleagues to raise funds to buy the car to enable the church carry out its work given the expansive area the Archbishop has to cover. “It is us who organised a mini-harambee for buying archbishop a vehicle and we requested the President and Deputy President to be our guests but the President sent the Deputy President. I received two cars and other gift all these belong to the church. The vehicles are still with the church,” he emphasised, stressing that they “are not personal”.

Archbishop Anyolo said there were no requests from anywhere to return some of the gifts. Opposition leader Raila Odinga kicked up a storm at the weekend when he claimed that one of the cars for which Deputy President William Ruto contributed had been returned. Odinga was quoted as saying the church rejected the vehicle “because it was bought using dirty money. The Pope insisted that the vehicle be returned. We should stand for the truth,” he said during a funeral. But in a response Sunday, DP Ruto hit back describing Odinga as a master of deceit.

The master of deceit as always is spewing desperate lies. The car gift was bought by Christian leaders including UK and myself at the request of the chair of Catholic mps.Understandably Empowering the church offends magicians and the evil spirits they worship. Shetani ashindwe!

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) March 3, 2019

“The car gift was bought by Christian leaders including UK and myself at the request of the chair of Catholic MPs. Understandably empowering the church offends magicians and the evil spirits they worship. Shetani ashindwe!,” DP Ruto tweeted. The second vehicle, a Toyota V8 was donated by the congregation. As the head of the Kisumu Metropolitan, Archbishop Anyolo is in charge of an area that covers Lodwar, Kitale, Bungoma, Kakamega, Eldoret, Homa Bay and Kisii.