Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on religious leaders to offer constructive criticism to the government with love, in an effort to ease growing tensions between the state and faith-based organisations.
Speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Tuesday during a national evangelical revival, Kindiki emphasized the importance of maintaining harmony between the church and government.
He joined clerics from across the country in prayer and reflection, acknowledging the spiritual role they play in national affairs.
“We are grateful for your prayers for the government. The Bible says there is no authority except that which God has established,” the Deputy President said.
Kindiki reiterated that the government and the church are not in opposition, but rather serve distinct yet complementary roles in society.
“There is no contest between the king and the prophets,” he said. “These are separate offices with different responsibilities that should support each other, not compete.”
He urged the church to speak out when the government errs, but to do so in a spirit of love and understanding.
“Please correct us when we go wrong—but correct us in love,” Kindiki appealed. “Don’t engage us as though, beyond the correction, there are other underlying issues. That only breeds unnecessary tension.”
The Deputy President acknowledged instances of friction between the government and religious groups, warning that such discord is unhealthy for the nation.
“We’ve seen tensions between the government and churches, and that’s not good for any country,” he noted. “We are a listening government—correct us with love and we will make adjustments where necessary.”
His remarks come amid a growing rift between religious institutions and political leaders, with some churches going as far as banning political speeches and donations from the pulpit in a bid to preserve the sanctity of worship spaces.
