TwoCents | Why the Church and the state MUST be separated.

Religion can be a very sensitive topic to talk about, especially when there are politics involved. In a setup like that of Kenya where the religious leaders want a share of power, and even some are currently nominated as members of parliament, it becomes an even harder conversation. The church has been a constant figure in Kenyan politics, which goes way back to the fight for multipartyism, and over the years, the involvement of the church in governance has greatly been increasing. This close relationship is even more visible during campaign periods, and like in the run-up to the 2022 general elections, religious leaders were seen endorsing politicians, and even the current president was always in church every Sunday, not to mention the huge donations. I mean, the church is always an immobilized crowd, which makes it ideal for politicians. 5 months into the new government, with millions of Kenyans’ hope for better days heightened, it’s not surprising that the church is even more involved. There have been countless ‘prayers’ and ‘thanksgiving’ crusades and congregations led majorly by evangelist religious leaders praying for the nation. It’s not news that millions of Kenyans are suffering because of the historical drought sweeping through the horn of Africa, the high cost of living which has left thousands of Kenyans going hungry, over-taxation, so many unemployed youths, the list is endless, and nothing seems to be changing.  Amidst all the chaos, on Valentine’s Day, the president of Kenya led a prayer rally to pray for the nation’s economic prospects, rains, the prosperity of the nation and all, which is very disturbing. The President even mentioned that he is proud that the church is claiming its place in the center of politics. Yes, prayers are not bad, but in this case, it is very problematic. Kenyans can no longer even afford basic needs, and not even a single political leader in the rally spoke out for Kenyans. With so much disorientation in the current leadership, religious leaders still want to claim a piece of the cake as they continue preaching the government’s agenda at the cost of the plight of millions of Kenyans. Even though the constitution of Kenya provides for the separation of the church and the state, this is not what is currently happening. Gone are the days in the 80s when the church was actually a voice that could wield so much power and the state listened, the days when the church acted for the good of the people. The church can help people when used well, like that of Martin Luther Jr and the civil rights movement. However, nowadays in Kenya, it can even be difficult to separate religious leaders from politicians given the flashy lifestyles of bishops and pastors in big SUVs, not to mention their huge following and the lure of power and money currently in play. The church has continuously allowed itself to be misused by cynics, and it is very detrimental as the current unholy alliance seeks to turn the country into a theocracy. So, what role should the church actually play in a democracy like ours? I believe the church should be a paragon of justice, it should call out the government, and voice out the grievances of the population. Prayers and rallies should be unifying and inclusive, and not the current use of prayers to attack opposing political views, and even the declaration that Kenya is a Christian country. It is not, it is and should remain secular. And so do the church and state, they must remain parallel entities.

Other insights from Anita Koske