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Anglican Church Bans Politicians from Making Speeches at Funeral Services in Katakwa Diocese
The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Katakwa Diocese, led by Bishop John Okude, has implemented the directive from Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, barring politicians from delivering speeches at church functions. This decision, which took effect during the burial of Layreader Mama Ruth Kisaka Kirori in Katakwa, Teso North Sub County, on Friday, has stirred controversy among local political leaders.Bishop Okude, who had been absent from public engagements for several weeks due to ill-health, surprised the gathering when he enforced the new order. Politicians who attended the funeral service were expecting to deliver their speeches, as is customary after such ceremonies, but the church had other plans. Instead of allowing the usual political speeches, the Bishop limited the speeches to only a few individuals.The only notable political figures who were invited to speak were Busia County Secretary John Oscar Juma, who delivered the condolence message from Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma, and Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader Hon. Peter Imwatok. Imwatok used his time to pay tribute to the late Mama Ruth, highlighting that at 84 years, she had surpassed the biblical benchmark of 70 years, which is considered the ideal lifespan according to scripture.This move, however, did not sit well with the local politicians, many of whom were excluded from addressing the mourners. These included Busia County Assembly Deputy Speaker Ronald Ochalu, several Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), and other political representatives. Even leaders who were tasked with delivering condolence messages, such as Grace Olita Omasete and William Okalio, were not permitted to speak.Tensions rose when the Bishop invited Joel Barua, former Chief Officer for Education and Vocational Training, to deliver a vote of thanks on behalf of the family, further alienating the local political leaders. Several of them expressed their disappointment over being denied the opportunity to speak and contribute to the burial expenses.Some of the leaders suggested that the exclusion was orchestrated by local officials who were wary of the presence of certain politicians, particularly those who had a difficult relationship with the county government. One anonymous leader speculated that instructions were given to ensure certain individuals, such as former Amukura Ward MCA Mose Baaba, were kept away from the function due to their critical stance against the local government.Despite the controversy, the move has received support from prominent political figures, including Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa and Busia Senator Okiyah Omtatah. Wamalwa, a former Defence Cabinet Secretary, praised the Anglican Church's decision, stating that it was essential for churches to remain places of worship rather than become platforms for political discourse. He expressed hope that other churches would follow suit, keeping politics out of religious settings.Senator Omtatah also backed the decision, sharing a video of Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit announcing the ban, captioning it with the words “way to go,” signaling his approval of the church's stance.This bold move by the Anglican Church of Kenya is expected to spark further discussions on the role of politicians in church events and whether such measures will be implemented more widely across the country.
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