Clergy guilty of half-truths in catfight with State

Members of the clergy have ramped up efforts to reclaim their voice after several years of gallivanting with politicians and power brokers.

From banning partisan speeches on the pulpit to rejecting Sh5.8 million given out by President William Ruto and other leaders the other day, churches are amenably keen to regain credibility.

On November 14, Catholic bishops brazenly accused Kenya Kwanza administration of ‘lying’ to taxpayers and ‘abducting’ innocent Kenyans. Another harsh verdict came from the National Council of Churches (NCCK) on Tuesday. Evangelicals and the Akorinos also spoke out strongly.

President Ruto thinks some of the criticisms are the devil’s machinations. In 2022, however, many clerics became ‘flower girls’ who chanted praises in political gatherings. I recall how the bishop of my church in Donholm, Nairobi, graced one manifesto launch, and visited State House several times.

The dilemma now is: How will clerics navigate critiquing and glorifying government?

Indeed, the Church’s latest Damascus moment reminds us of many outspoken clerics in modern history like Emmanuel Makandiwa of Zimbabwe, Thomas Msusa of Malawi, Desmond Tutu of South Africa and Kenya’s Alexander Muge, Henry Okulu and Ndingi Mwana Nzeki.

These icons stirred controversy with their bold stand on issues. Take for instance, Archbishop Msusa and other Catholic leaders in Malawi who in the 1990s penned a letter headlined ‘New ills in our country’ in which they accused Kamuzu Banda of misrule. They pushed Malawi into multi-party era.

Similarly, Bishop Desmond Tutu, admired for his courage, frequently urged the Church to side with oppressed people, warning that “if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Tutu’s commitment to justice and equity rallied the religious community against apartheid.

In Kenya, figures like Bishop Muge were a thorn in the flesh of the Kanu regime, and were targeted by the State for their fearless criticism. Archbishop Ndingi, a champion of justice, and Henry Okulu who founded the ‘Friends of Democracy’ movement, pushed for good governance in the Nyayo era with rare zeal.

And now, Nairobi Catholic Bishop Philip Anyolo seems to be cutting his teeth well in the game. But his words last week that “in Kenya, we’re born in the blood of corruption” missed the mark.

By making such a generalisation on a serious matter, he inadvertently upset many who aren’t corrupt. Kenya has no shortage of responsible and ethical citizens! The good bishop should apologise.

For the record, graft is systemic, not something inherent in the population’s blood. It’s bad behaviour shaped by economic hardship, inequality and political circumstances. To say we have graft in our veins amounts to careless religious populism.

In my honest view, Bishop Anyolo’s mindset risks fueling corruption since he suggests graft is part of our identity. This can deflate anti-graft efforts since he implies nothing can be done to stop it. Greed isn’t inborn but rather a learnt behaviour developing over time through own choices, societal and environmental factors.

The good thing is, religious leaders can change such a mentality. By using their moral authority to advocate integrity and accountability, they can rebuke the half-truths. Their influence can create a cultural and institutional change toward a just society where we won’t have to lose Sh2 billion daily to graft.

The Church, with its extensive reach, should become a force in transforming attitudes and injecting selflessness in us. Rather than reinforce defeatist views, Bishop Anyolo and other clerics can offer goodwill, even for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chaired by man of cloth, David Oginde.

Granted, graft isn’t insurmountable as such. Let faith leaders lead by example and inspire their congregations and society to rise above sleaze and work towards an equitable future. What’s more, if I were a politician, I wouldn’t insist on donating funds when church leaders have boldly rejected the idea.