Should church leaders accept cash donations from politicians? This is the question that a number of Kenyans keep asking even as the Political Cash debate in Churches keep eliciting different opinions.
Deputy President William Ruto has particularly been singled out for being too generous towards the churches as he continues to dish out large sums of money in form of donations to various churches across the Country.
His generousity has made a number of leaders call for a lifestyle audit on him with many arguing that the money he gives out to churches are proceeds of corruption.
Leading the attacks on DP Ruto has been opposition Chief Raila Odinga who over the weekend took a swipe at religious leaders saying they have allowed churches to be used for money laundering.
According to Raila, the money being dished out in churches was from people of questionable character.
Raila lashed out at Churches for accepting Cash donations without even finding out the true source of these cash.
The former Prime Minister claimed that money meant for various developmental projects was being traded in Churches.
“This is money which should have could been used to pay for medical services to Kenyans, to pay salaries for teachers, to construct roads and schools and hospitals. These are enemies to the people of Kenyans,” Mr Odinga stated in Kisumu.
Raila challenged DP Ruto to disclose the source of his income, terming it immoral for him to continue contributing money in numerous harambees without disclosing his other source of income.
“He moves from church to church over the weekend to make contributions while members clap to him and nobody dares to ask where the money is coming from,” Mr Odinga said.
“We know that his salary is only one million per month while he goes ahead to give out up to 100 million per month,” he said.
“We cannot fight corruption if we cannot fight its tentacles. We have said in the past that those who are corrupt should look for somewhere else to take their ill-gotten money,” he added.
Two religious leaders have now lashed out at Mr. Odinga.
The leaders, Head of Episcopal Church in Kenya Bishop Joshua Koyo and the Head of the Anglican Church of Kenya Maseno Diocese Bishop Charles Onginjo told Mr Odinga to respect institutions.
Bishop Koyo said that it is high time the former Prime Minister stopped blaming churches in the war against graft.
He pointed out that churches have development projects to undertake that needed support financially from well-wishers. He said Mr Odinga was not a good giver to the churches, hence the attack.
“We have a forum to speak against the corruption but we do not have the power to apprehend the culprits and take them to court. Therefore, we should not be blamed,” said Bishop Koyo.
He also warned that war against graft will only be won if those pushing for it are genuine.
Bishop Onginjo questioned why sometimes it is inconvenient for certain people to speak or contribute in church, but when other people are given the same platform, they feel it is not right.
“If we say we are not going to entertain politicians in church, let it be across the board. As per now it is however not clear who to receive and who not to receive,” said Bishop Onginjo.
He, however said as the church, they need to come up with restrictions that are implemented fully admitting that they have been giving politicians unnecessary prominence which could be mistaken to mean they are favoring them.
Speaking after a church service at Dago, in Kisumu West, the Bishop however warned that the knee-jerk reactions in fighting graft by not allowing some people accused of corruption, from accessing and contributing ‘stolen’ funds to the church, may not work.
“We have been listening to this corruption song for a very long time. What we are seeing now is public lynching. If there is evidence implicating an individual, let him be charged before court of law,” he said.