Africa Inland Church (AIC) in Kenya does not support the bid to regulate church donations from politicians as a way of fighting corruption in the country.
Former Inspector General of Police (IG), David Kimaiyo said as much as the church condemn any acts of corruption, political leaders should not be gagged from donating according to their ability and with clean heart.
Speaking at AIC Benon in Milimani location where he attended Sunday Church Service , Dr. Kimaiyo who is the Chairman of Milimani local church council (L.C.C), Nairobi, reiterated that it was difficult for the clergy to establish whether good-will donations to the church from politicians during funds drive was clean or ill gotten.
“God knows somebody’s heart and when pastors, bishops and evangelists receive such monies, they only bless and thank the givers. That is all as far as gifts by politicians or other leaders who are also part of the congregation is concerned,” he stated.
Dr. Kimaiyo while asking the church leaders to continue accepting the money for use in advancing the church ministry said it is incumbent upon relevant arm of the government to carry out investigations to ascertain if money donated was proceed of corruption.
The former police boss pointed out that gifts given voluntarily to the church by leaders invited need not be rejected on the presumption that may be the money might have been stolen arguing that it is only God who searches the heart.
Kimaiyo who quoted extensively from the Bible and discouraged publicity of donations said that God wants his people to give out of dedication to church activities and love for fellow believers.
The former IG also noted that the clergy should not allow the church pulpit to be used as a political platform where politicians bash their opponents and make inflammatory statements.
The Catholic and Anglican Churches have strongly advocated for regulation of church donations from politicians insisting that all donations should be done electrically or through cheques as a way of boosting the war against graft.
By Joshua Kibet
