- The chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Archbishop Maurice Muhatia has explained how the church has been depending on donations
- As he stated that the church does not reject donations, Muhatia stressed that well-wishers must do so in secret and not for publicity
- Archbishop Anthony Muheria acknowledged the honour accorded by leaders but emphasised that they remain barred from pulpits
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Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Meru: The newly appointed Bishop of the Meru Diocese, Jackson Murugara, has been officially ordained in a grand ceremony held at Kinoru Stadium in Meru Town on Wednesday, March 19.
During the service, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), clarified the church’s stance on donations, emphasising that evangelisation has always relied on the generosity of the faithful even in the Apostolic age.
However, he reiterated that acts of goodwill should not be publicised.
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“I just want to clarify that since the beginning, the Church has always depended on donations. Since the time of Jesus Christ, the ministry of Jesus was supported heavily by donations. The church, since time immemorial, up to to day depends on the goodwill of men and women in this work of evangelisation,” Archbishop Muhatia stated.
Will the Catholic Church accept political donations?
Archbishop Muhatia further emphasised that while the church does not reject donations, they must be made discreetly.
He referenced Bishop Murugara’s Episcopal motto, “Good must be done well in silence,” aligning it with KCCB’s stance against what he termed “microphone donations” and “loudspeaker donations” given for publicity.
“We don’t refuse donations; we don’t reject donations. But the motto of the bishop ordained today summarises what we are saying, ‘good must be done well in silence’.
We are concerned about microphone donations, we are concerned about loudspeaker donations, we are concerned about donations made for publicity. The bishop is very consistent with the position of KCCB. Our Heavenly Father, who sees all that is done in silence, will reward you,” he stated.
Reflecting on the 2025 Lenten Campaign theme, “The Kenya We Desire,” Archbishop Muhatia called on Catholics to take a leading role in the fight against corruption.
Additionally, the Archbishop of Nyeri, Anthony Muheria, reaffirmed the Church’s position on barring political speeches in places of worship.
“As you know, the position of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference is that we will not allow political speeches in our ceremonies. However, we recognise the great honour granted to us by our leaders,” he said.
Message to Bishop Jackson Murugara
The main celebrant, Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, Archbishop Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen, urged the newly ordained bishop to uphold the values of service by not engaging into anything extraordinary.
“You do not need to impose a housing levy to build a new house for the Lord. Nor do you have to apply social taxes to feed the hungry to turn stones into bread or into millions of chapatis,” he warned.
Bishop Murugara was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Meru on January 16, before officially assuming leadership through Wednesday’s, March 19, ordination ceremony.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
