MP Elachi says the church should not be involved in government affairs

Dagoretti North Member of Parliament (MP) Beatrice Elachi has weighed in on the church’s involvement in government affairs. 

Speaking during an interview on Monday, December 2, 2024, Elachi stated that it was wrongful of the church to involve itself in government affairs. 

She also observed that politicians should refrain from making money contributions to churches. 

This according to her, will narrow the churches involvement with government matters. 

“The church should not be involved in government affairs. Politicians must stop making money contributions to churches,” she said. 

Elachi also shared her thoughts on Raila’s efforts to uniting the nation during the heightened Gen Z protests in June. 

She underscored that the former prime minister prioritized the unity of Kenya over an opportunity to clinch power. 

The MP explained that Raila could have seized opportunity to claim power during the chaos, but instead opted to prioritize national stability. 

“I think I need to thank his Excellency Baba Raila Amollo Odinga for just making the country move on. Because if he was a person who really needed power, he had that time to take over and do many things after 25th of June. But if he stood firm and said ‘unity is important for the country’, then let us respect just that,” the lawmaker said. 

“I think that is what we are praying all of us for God’s grace that in 2025 we want to see a calm country and a country that now starts picking up after the two years that we have seen so much drama which I don’t think any Kenyan would wish to remember,” she added.

Elachis’ comments on the church come in the wake of churches rejecting money donations by politicians including the president.

Two weeks ago, Soweto Catholic Church rejected a cash donation made by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

The president had donated Ksh600,000 to the church choir while Sakaja had given Ksh200,000. Ruto also gave ksh2 million to the church for the construction of the parish priest’s house and pledged Ksh3 million.

Nairobi Archdioces Bishop Philip Anyolo, however, rejected the contributions saying the money donated will be returned, and the bus promised by the president will not be accepted. Anyolo explained that the move follows a directive by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops which banned such contributions.