A storm is brewing at the intersection of politics and religion after a hard-hitting Citizen TV exposé revealed that the State has been handing out luxury Toyota Prados and money incentives to select religious leaders.
While some Pentecostal churches have reportedly been quick to embrace the presidential largesse, the Roman Catholic Church has drawn a hard line, with bishops under strict instructions not to accept what the church hierarchy has described as “gifts” that risk compromising their moral authority.
The revelations, splashed across national airwaves, have triggered a fierce debate on whether the government’s so-called benevolence amounts to outright bribery funded by taxpayers’ money.
Kalonzo Musyoka Fires a Warning
Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka was quick to weigh in, alleging that “some bishops from other denominations have already pocketed brand-new Prados courtesy of the State.”
According to Kalonzo, Catholic bishops refused similar gifts directly from President William Ruto, opting instead to preserve the independence of their pulpit.
“These gifts are not acts of charity,” Kalonzo declared at a press briefing. “They are funded by public money, and Kenyans are right to question where such huge sums are coming from.”
Courtship of the Church
The allegations land at a sensitive time for the Kenya Kwanza administration which has been actively courting the church’s support to bolsterprospects of reelection . From grassroots gatherings to national prayer rallies, the Head of State has repeatedly urged religious leaders to align with his administration’s policies for what he calls “national development and moral rearmament.”
Yet critics say these overtures mask an attempt to use the pulpit as a political amplifier — one financed through questionable incentives.
A Nation Reacts
The exposé has inflamed an already heated debate on the separation of church and state. Public outrage has been mounting, with Kenyans taking to social media to decry the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds.
“Churches should guide the State, not be bought by it,” read one viral post. Others questioned why, in a time of rising taxes and economic pain, millions of shillings could allegedly be diverted to fund vehicles and allowances for preachers.
Transparency on Trial
The opposition has seized on the scandal, branding it “a systematic bribery scheme” designed to silence the church’s prophetic voice in exchange for political loyalty.
“This is about accountability,” Kalonzo insisted. “If public funds are being used to buy vehicles for bishops, then Parliament and the Auditor-General must investigate.”
The government has yet to issue a detailed response, though insiders insist the President’s gestures are voluntary donations, not bribes. Pentecostal Church leaders implicated in the Citizen TV report have also remained conspicuously silent.
Bigger Questions Linger
The controversy has sharpened focus on Kenya’s delicate balance between faith and politics. Religious institutions have long played a role in shaping public opinion and even political direction. But with allegations of gifts — or bribes — now clouding that relationship, the question remains:
Is the pulpit becoming an extension of the political podium?
For now, Kenyans await clarity — from both State and the Church sanctuaries allegedly on the receiving end of public largesse.
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