Religious leaders under the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya have dismissed calls from some mainstream denominations for churches to block politicians from their pulpits.
The Anglican and Catholic churches have also called upon fellow churches to reject money from politicians who cannot account for the source of their contributions and tithes.
But Bishop Kepha Omae of the Redeemed Gospel Church now says that politicians are welcome, rubbishing claims that they (politicians) are using the church to launder graft proceeds.
Speaking on Sunday, Omae noted that churches under the umbrella will continue to receive the money as they don't have the mechanism to scrutinize its source.
He wondered why other churches are being biased against politicians, yet they don't question the source of offerings given by other congregants.
"We have no right to ask you where you get your money. Let us not politicise the issue as politicians have helped build many churches in the country. Do we ask our congregants where they get their money from when they pay tithes and even give offerings?” Omae was quoted by Daily Nation.
The priest was speaking at the church branch in Huruma, Nairobi county.
The remarks were echoed by Bishop Timothy Gichere of the ACK Mt Kenya Central Diocese who said that the church will not lock any politician out unless they are declared corrupt.
“When leaders come to church and contribute money with clean hearts, we can’t decline because we are not in a position to know if the money is from corruption," said Bishop Gichere who was speaking at the Murang’a GK Prison.
This comes only a week after ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit called upon the church to avoid money from politicians.