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Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit with Bishop Martin Kivuva arrive with other bishops at the IEBC National presidential tallying centre at the Bomas Of Kenya ,Nairobi on August 15, 2022. [File, Standard]
In his distinctive style, Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit, the Head of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), once again made it clear—politics has no place in the pulpit.
This declaration came on a day when a host of political leaders gathered at ACK St Stephen’s Cathedral, Jogoo Road, Nairobi, to witness the consecration and enthronement of the third Bishop of ACK Nairobi Diocese, Canon Jonathan Kabiru. However, the political leaders in attendance were given a clear instruction from the Archbishop: they were to adhere to his directive.
Sapit issued a strict ruling that, moving forward, no politicians would be permitted to address the congregation inside the church. Instead, they would be acknowledged by name and allowed to wave to the congregation.
“I want to give a direction that from today onwards, in any Anglican church, no political leader will be allowed to speak. We will mention their names and they can wave their hands,” Sapit declared.
He further clarified that if politicians wished to address the congregants, they would have to do so outside the sanctuary. This ruling is not limited to the service held at St Stephen’s Cathedral but applies to all ACK dioceses and churches in the future.
The Archbishop also addressed another issue. He emphasised that offerings in the church would no longer be announced.
“Giving in the Anglican Church will not be announced. Just give as God directs you to give, for what we give to God, we do not need to announce to human beings,” Sapit stated.
After the service, Sapit urged the politicians to focus on their actual duties as elected officials, addressing the grievances of Kenyans instead of being in campaign mode perpetually. He stressed that politicians should redirect their energies towards fulfilling their responsibilities rather than indulging in political grandstanding.
Among those present when the Archbishop issued his directive were former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, as well as Governors Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi) and Joshua Irungu (Laikipia).
The politicians, who are accustomed to addressing church congregations whenever they attend services, complied with Sapit’s directive. When the Archbishop called their names, they stood, waved, and returned to their seats without making any speeches.
Kalonzo Musyoka, on his social media platform, reflected on the day’s event, describing it as an “honour” to be present at the consecration and enthronement of the new bishop. He noted that the service, presided over by Archbishop Sapit, was a memorable one and wished the ACK community success in “influencing the city, the nation, and the world.”
This is not the first time the church has taken a strong stand against political involvement in its affairs. Recently, a Catholic priest criticised politicians who left church services immediately after delivering their speeches, without staying for the mass.
The priest expressed frustration at the inconsistency, stating that, unlike politicians, ordinary citizens stayed for the entirety of the service, paying their respects to the deceased. He called for a change in this disrespectful culture.
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Both the ACK and the Catholic Church share similar views on limiting political speeches during services. They have jointly condemned the use of church platforms for political purposes and emphasised the need for churches to remain spaces of worship and reflection rather than arenas for political combat.
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The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
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