Why A Catholic Priest In Kisii Returned Arati’s Sh100,000 Donation

KISII, Kenya, Dec 2- A Catholic priest in Kisii has returned a Sh100,000 donation made by Dagoretti North Member of Parliament Simba Arati on Sunday at Nyamagwa Catholic church.

The cleric returned the donation following the chaos that erupted in the church during consecration and opening of the newly built Nyamawa parish in the Bobasi constituency.

He said the church could not tolerate disrespect from politicians, further cautioning politicians against misusing places of worship.

Chaos erupted after Arati sought to address the congregants despite Bobasi MP Innocent Obiri having strict instructions from clergy to allow only two politicians to speak.

Obiri accused Arati of insulting and attempting to attack him while demanding to be given a chance to address the congregation.

Police officers were forced to intervene. The police ordered Arati out of the church alongside his supporters. He addressed them a few meters from the church.

Arati who has shown interest in the Kisii gubernatorial seat had donated the cash before the chaos erupted.

The legislator has since downplayed the incident and instead accused the church of playing politics while favouring his opponents.

“I gave out money to several leaders in the church. Why then are they claiming to have returned part of the money? Why are they not returning the rest, which amounts to more than KSh300,000,” he asked.

In the captured footage, Bishop Joseph Mairura is heard calming the congregation down.

“Calm down. Is this the way you treat yourselves in church? This is disrespectful,” Bishop Mairura could be heard saying.

The consecration service was presided by Kenyan/South Sudan apostolic Nuncio his Grace Bert Van Megen and Rt. Rev Joseph Mairura Bishop of the Kisii Diocese.