Churches should be politically neutral, says Ida Odinga

Wife of Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga, Ida Odinga, has urged churches in the country to be neutral politically and continue giving direction to political leaders for the benefit of all Kenyans.

Ida was speaking during a church service at Kanyimach SDA Church in Migori on Saturday when she urged churches to be role models and not engage in politics to ensure they don’t lose their core mandate.

She called on religious institutions to instead focus on offering spiritual support to political leaders and preach peace.

Mrs Odinga further appealed to members of the clergy to urge members of the public to acquire national identification cards and voters’ cards so as to participate in the democratic process for the country and for themselves.

Recently the government suspended the new regulations that were meant to regulate the manner in which churches conduct their business to allow for more deliberations on certain contentious clauses.

However, a poll by Pan African Research Services showed 60 per cent of Kenyans from different denominations want to see religious organisations streamlined.

Pan African Research Services MD Jane Mugo said the research that was done before the government withdrew the proposed regulations indicates that 62 per cent of Kenyans agree with the move to audit the accounts of religious institutions.

She added that the respondents were of the view that religious clerics should have a certificate of good conduct to ensure that churches are protected from preachers who only mean to take advantage of their followers.

The report further showed that most respondents want clerics to have a theological training certificate from a recognised institution.

The survey findings however indicated that 62 per cent of respondents were opposed to the directive that churches must submit annual tax returns and audited accounts.

Earlier, CORD had vehemently opposed the now suspended proposed regulations saying the party would not tolerate attempts by the government to constrict the freedom of worship using what they termed as “draconian laws”, terming the move unconstitutional and one that should be resisted.

“Religious personnel should not misuse religion to exploit audiences by asking them to support them financially or abuse of a person’s belief in order to convince that person to change her/his belief and subscribe to the beliefs of the person challenging her/him,” reads one of the provisions in the guidelines.