Anglican Archbishop Ole Sapit has banned the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies from addressing congregants in church.
While speaking to congregants at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, ACK Diocese of Nairobi, during the consecration and enthronement of Ven. Canon Jonathan Kabiru as the 3rd Bishop of the ACK Nairobi Diocese at ACK St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Makadara, Nairobi County, Sapit asked the politicians to address the congregants outside the church premises.
“There will be no opportunity for any political leader to have a speech in the church. We will mention their names, they will wave their hands, if they so wish to speak to the congregants. It will be done outside of the sanctuary,” said Sapit.
Further, Sapit said that the ban will not only apply today but also on the coming Sundays and will apply in all Anglican dioceses and its churches.
Sapit Bans Politicians from Speaking in Churches
The former Deputy President was accompanied by several leaders including former Member of Parliament of Nyeri Town Ngunjiri Wambugu.
Other leaders who were present while Sapit issued the order during the service were Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
This is not the first time the Anglican Archbishop has banned politicians from speaking in churches.
Also Read: How Raila Is Using Gachagua’s Tactics After Deal with Ruto
On September 12, 2021, in the run-up to the 2022 general elections, when politicians were politicking in churches, Sapit instructed all Anglican churches to prohibit politicians from speaking at pulpits.
Religious Leaders Ban Politicking from Pulpits
At the time he issued the ban, he was presiding over the consecration of Rev. Rose Okeno as the Bishop of the Butere Diocese at Butere Girls Secondary School in Kakamega County, where the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the then ANC Party leader Musalia Mudavadi were invited as guests.
He did not allow the former Prime Minister and ANC Party leader to address the congregants who attended the consecration ceremony.
Also Read: Gachagua Explains How he Will Defeat Ruto & Raila
The Catholic Church have also in the past ban politicians from politicking in churches.
On September 15 2021, a group of catholic bishops led by Catholic Archbishop of Mombasa Archdiocese Martin Kivuva banned politicians from speaking in their churches during mass.
The catholic clerics at the time said any politician who attends mass must do so like any other worshipper.
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