NCCK warns politicians against turning churches into battlegrounds after Kisumu killings
By Viola Kosome, July 14, 2026The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has issued a stern warning to politicians against turning places of worship into arenas for political confrontation, saying the growing culture of hiring goons to disrupt church services threatens the country’s peace and undermines the sanctity of religious institutions.
Speaking in Kisumu on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, during a workshop on police brutality and enforced disappearances, NCCK National Chairman Rev. Dr. Elias Agola condemned the recent violence at ACK St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Kisumu that claimed two lives, describing it as an attack not only on worshippers but also on the country’s democratic values.
Agola said churches are increasingly becoming targets of politically instigated violence as rival groups seek to intimidate opponents, warning that such actions could plunge the country into deeper instability as the nation moves closer to the 2027 General Election.
“We are seeing a degrading approach by our political actors, organizing goons and even taking them into places of worship. This is not limited to one political side. We have seen it from both the government and the opposition, and we condemn it in the strongest terms,” he said.
He said the church was deeply concerned by the normalisation of political violence, where young people are allegedly recruited and paid to disrupt church services and political gatherings.
According to Agola, the trend is eroding democratic values that Kenyans fought for during the struggle for constitutional reforms in the 1980s and 1990s, warning that the country risks losing gains made under the 2010 Constitution if political intolerance is allowed to flourish.
He reminded political leaders that churches are sacred spaces dedicated solely to the worship of God and should never be converted into political platforms or conflict zones.
“Politicians are welcome in our churches because they are members of our congregations just like everyone else. But they must come to worship and not to intimidate others or turn the sanctuary into a political battlefield,” he said.
Agola urged leaders to stop arriving at churches accompanied by armed groups or supporters whose intention is to provoke violence, saying every worshipper has a constitutional right to pray in peace regardless of their political affiliation.
Referring to the deadly incident at ACK St. Stephen’s Cathedral, he said what happened could never be justified.
“It was not an act of peace. It was not the action of a Christian coming to worship. It was an act that resulted in blood being shed in a place consecrated for God,” he said.
Sympathy to bereaved families
The NCCK chairman expressed sympathy with the families that lost loved ones in the violence, saying no family should have to endure such pain because of political interests.
He challenged those responsible for organising the attacks to seek forgiveness and abandon violence before more innocent lives are lost.
Agola also appealed directly to young people, urging them to reject being used as instruments of political violence for short-term financial gain.
“The little money politicians give you cannot sustain you for even a day, yet the consequences can last a lifetime. Today it is another family’s child who has died; tomorrow it could be your own,” he warned.
Police neutrality questioned
The church leader further called on the National Police Service to remain professional and impartial, expressing concern over allegations that some officers had failed to stop acts of violence or had appeared to protect those involved.
“We have witnessed situations where goons are escorted by police, where officers stand by as violence unfolds, and where suspects are arrested only to be released. The police were created to protect all Kenyans, not to serve the interests of politicians,” Agola said.
He challenged security agencies to identify and prosecute those financing political gangs instead of allowing them to operate with impunity.
“The big question is, who is sending these goons? If the police know those behind them, are they serving politicians or are they serving the people of Kenya?” he posed.
Church concerned on school unrest
Beyond political violence, Agola raised concern over the rising cases of unrest in schools, saying society must take collective responsibility for mentoring children and restoring moral values.
He urged parents, teachers, churches, government institutions and the media to work together in instilling discipline among young people following recent incidents of school unrest, including the destruction of learning institutions.
“Our children are a reflection of the homes they come from. If they grow up embracing violence, then all of us must ask ourselves where we failed. Values-based education must become our collective responsibility,” he said.
Agola also defended the church’s role in regulating political conduct within places of worship, insisting that clergy have both the authority and responsibility to ensure churches remain peaceful and non-partisan.
He said while politicians remain free to attend church services and church functions, they must respect church protocols, avoid inflammatory speeches and refrain from using worship services for political campaigns or attacks against opponents.
“When leaders come to church, they should not expect applause or political endorsement. They should come to worship God with humility like every other congregant,” he said.
As NCCK rolls out similar engagements across other counties, Agola said the church will continue speaking out against political violence, police brutality and enforced disappearances while advocating for justice, accountability and peaceful coexistence ahead of the next General Election.