Kenya Catholic Bishops Ban Political Speeches in Churches Ahead of 2027 Election

Kenya's Catholic bishops have banned political speeches from every Catholic church in the country and told presidential hopefuls to tame their tongues before the 2027 General Election. Speaking in Embu on Thursday, 12 November 2026, the bishops warned that tribal and inflammatory language could plunge the country into chaos. With about 270 days left until the August 2027 vote, they said the peace Kenyans enjoy is fragile, and careless words could break it.

The warning came from the top of the Church. The bishops were led by Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops chairman Archbishop Maurice Muhatia and vice-chairman Archbishop Anthony Muheria, and they did not speak in general terms. They named the problem, and they named the remedy.

"We call upon the security organs to be non-partisan in applying the law without favouring any aspirants or political affiliations," they said. It was a message aimed as much at the police as at the politicians.

Kenya Catholic Bishops Tame Your Tongues Warning

The call comes amid an escalation of exchanges between opposing sides. Over the last week, President William Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, who now leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party, have traded barbs, with their comments bordering on insults and personal attacks.

The bishops said the campaign season has not even begun, and the language is already out of control. "Charged campaigns should not be a pretext to use polarising language," they said. "We also remind the political actors that the stipulated campaign period has not begun and Kenyans expect people seeking office and their supporters to be civilised in their language, attitude and behaviour."

Then they said the thing that will be quoted for weeks. "The use of indecent and offensive language by political aspirants and their supporters undermines the morals that we teach our children; it sets a bad example for younger generations," they said.

It is a simple argument, and it is hard to answer. Children are watching, and the men who want to lead the country are teaching them how to speak.

Kenya Bishops Ban Politics in Churches 2027 Election

The bishops did not stop at words. They declared a ban on politicking in all Catholic churches nationwide, and they told their priests to enforce it.

"As your shepherds, we emphasise that the pastoral agents in charge, particularly priests, have the obligation to protect sacred places from being used for political campaigns," said Archbishop Muheria. "Places of worship should be peaceful and prayerfully available to all, regardless of their political affiliation, and be symbols of unity, love and care."

He added that politicians have plenty of other stages. "Politicians have many options to utilise in their search for votes, including media, barazas and roadside rallies," he said. "We therefore instruct all our priests to implement this position of the Bishop's Conference with diligence and the seriousness it deserves."

The bishops also invited every presidential aspirant to make a public commitment to keep the peace and maintain political decency. It was an invitation, but it sounded like a test.

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The statement went further than language. The bishops condemned reported abductions across the country and said freedom of speech was being tested on all fronts. "What is of more concern is that some of these incidents involve armed people in collaboration with the police," they said. "In other cases, the police watch as goons harass legitimate actors exercising their right to freedom of expression."

They weighed in on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, telling the body to ensure a fair, credible and transparent electoral process. "For this to happen, the IEBC must work to raise public trust," they said. They lamented that in the past, electoral mistakes had led to vicious disputes, loss of lives and destruction of property.

"These mistakes should not be repeated next year. IEBC should remain independent and resist every attempt by politicians or other powerful interests to intimidate, manipulate or compromise its work," they stated. The goverment was not named, but the message was plain enough for everyone in Nairobi to hear.

The bishops also cautioned Parliament against Bills that could cast doubt on the credibility of the process, including proposals to restrict live broadcasts of presidential vote tallies. "At this hour, we should not introduce Bills that cast doubt on the credibility of the process into the general elections," they said.

And they spoke directly to the young. They urged young people to acquire national identity cards and register as voters, and warned them against politicians who might entice them with money to take part in political violence. In a country where the young are so often used as the muscle of campaigns, that warning lands hard.

Kenya's churches have spoken this way before, and the country has not always listened. The bishops' own words carry the memory of it: "We must not forget that the relative peace we enjoy can be lost through careless words. It is in our interest to ensure that peace is sustained throughout the campaign period."

The same Church that speaks for the persecuted across Africa, as Widow Afordia Takes Plea to Downing Street Today reported, and that has watched Christians attacked in Nigeria, as Latest: 5 Christians Killed in Nigeria Plateau Attacks as Gunmen Strike Two Villages reported, is now turning its voice on its own country's politics. The revival sweeping the continent, from 45,000 Students Turn to Christ as Revival Sweeps Liberia, has not made the bishops soft. If anything, it has made them bolder.

The campaign period does not officially begin until 29 May 2027, but the shouting has already started. The bishops have now told the politicians where they may not shout: not in church, not in tribal code, and not at the cost of the peace. The question is whether anyone in Nairobi was listening, or whether the next 270 days will prove the bishops right in the worst possible way.