One of the most intriguing episodes in recent Kenyan politics is the way politicians manipulate religion to influence their prominence or advance their political goals. This fraudulent portrayal of faith is often dangerous, especially when we know that religion is a deeply moral and affective entity. It is not surprising that the pendulum has obviously swung the other way, where use of faith or religious affiliation is often viewed with suspicion, and as a reminder of the 2007 post-election violence and stranglehold partisanship of the church in party politics. Unfortunately, many Christians are unable to see through the veil of politicised environment as we are now. It is an indisputable fact that both religion and politics strongly appeal to our national emotions.

Last week's Supreme Court hearings, for example, confirmed an interesting collision of two things that are so intimate, emotive and tend to obsess Kenyans in very interesting ways: religion and politics. The public prayed for wisdom in the dispensation of justice in the petition and or also 'assigned' God to particular candidates so that it was as if God stood at the courtroom on their behalf as a lawyer and their defender. It pains me to hear some supporters say that "God is on our side".