Kenyan bishops throw politicians out of the pulpit

Raila Odinga

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga at a church service. PHOTO | FILE 

Bishops of Kenya’s Catholic and major Protestant churches have bowed to state pressure to block politicians addressing congregants from the pulpits, denying the latter a popular campaign platform in the run-up to the next elections.

Catholic bishops in a pastoral letter Wednesday directed their parishes across the country to enforce the ban, citing increased use of places of worship to promote partisan politics and flout Covid-19 related rules against large public gatherings.