MERU DECEMBER 6, 2016(CISA) – Bishop Salesius Mugambi of the Catholic Diocese of Meru has banned political campaigns in churches.
Speaking December 5 on the sidelines of the just concluded Jubilee Year of Mercy celebrations at Consolata Primary School in Meru town, Bishop Mugambi urged politicians to “respect the church.”
“If they are given a chance to greet the people and sell their agenda, let them do it outside the house of God. These houses are blessed and meant for prayer. Priests need to take care of that. A lot of things have happened in the past and we don’t want to go back there,” The Star Newspaper quoted Bishop Mugambi as saying.
He noted that the church is a place of worship and must never be turned into campaign grounds by politicians during and after the August 2017 General elections.
He expressed concern that politicians have resorted to physical fights and use of abusive language urging them “to be tolerant and respect each other.”
In November 2, Bishop Paul Njiru Kariuki of the Catholic Diocese of Embu, in an exhortation letter sent to priests and all Christians in the diocese of Embu banned politicians from using the pulpit to woo voters ahead of the forthcoming 2017 General Elections.
“In the event that the politicians seek to contribute in fundraising, they will only be allowed to do so as church members without expecting to be given a chance to campaign,” said Bishop Kariuki.
