NAIROBI, Kenya – In a move aimed at preserving the sanctity of worship spaces, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has issued a directive barring political activities in its member churches.
Politicians will no longer be allowed to address congregants during services or have their financial contributions publicly celebrated, a statement from the council announced following its executive committee meeting in Limuru, Kiambu County.
This decision comes on the heels of a similar ban by the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), where Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit recently prohibited opposition politicians from speaking at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Nairobi.
The restriction has since been extended to all ACK churches nationwide, emphasizing a growing trend among religious institutions to draw a firm line between politics and worship.
The NCCK’s new regulations lay out eight specific guidelines designed to eliminate political influence within church walls.
Politicians are now required to deliver speeches outside the worship sanctuary, addressing either the public or the media.
Contributions from political leaders will also be treated as private and equal to those of ordinary worshippers, with no special recognition or announcements made during services.
“We want to ensure that what happens in the worship sanctuary remains sacred,” said Archbishop Sapit during the consecration of Mt. Kenya West Bishop Gerald Mwangi Muriithi at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Nyeri County. “Even if the President were here, we would still enforce this rule. Other communication can be made outside the sanctuary because it is not part of worship.”
The council also called on religious leaders to remain neutral, refraining from endorsing or opposing political figures or parties.
Moreover, politicians will no longer receive exaggerated recognition during services, a practice that has often turned places of worship into platforms for political grandstanding.
Despite the stringent measures, the guidelines allow church leaders to present community concerns to visiting politicians—provided it is done respectfully and within the boundaries of their areas of responsibility.
This provision ensures that the church remains a voice for societal issues while maintaining its primary role as a place of worship.
The directive has already been enforced, with prominent figures like Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua barred from addressing congregants during a recent service in Nyeri County.
Instead, they were allowed to greet worshippers outside the sanctuary.
Archbishop Sapit emphasized that the decision is not personal but necessary to uphold the sanctity of the church.
“It is not that we don’t love you (Gachagua), but we had to establish a protocol for the Anglican Church,” he clarified.
President William Ruto, who attended a separate service at the African Inland Church in Makadara, defended his association with the church, highlighting his role in supporting development projects, including building schools and churches.
“God has given me a chance to be a builder,” Ruto said, underscoring his commitment to contributing to societal progress through religious partnerships.
However, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah expressed reservations about the NCCK’s directive, stating that Christians should have the freedom to give offerings openly.
“It is up to me as a Christian to choose how to give,” he said.
The NCCK has urged religious leaders to implement the new rules uniformly across congregations, emphasizing that the church must remain a unifying force rather than a stage for political division.
“We call on all church leaders to ensure the strict implementation of these guidelines to uphold the dignity and neutrality of worship spaces,” the statement read.
