Christ Is The Answer Ministry (CITAM) church in Meru county on Friday, March 4, played host to local religious and political leadership for a prayer breakfast. The event presided over by CITAM Bishop Rev. Calisto Odede focused on enhancing peace, cohesion, prosperity and development towards the forthcoming August 9 General Election.
However, the early morning meeting took a political turn when Meru senator Mithika Linturi stood to speak but apparently veered off the day’s teachings, attracting Bishop Odede’s attention.
“People have been fighting because there is an individual who does not accept results once they are announced by the IEBC,” Linturi stated in an apparent reference to ODM leader Raila Odinga who rejected, 2007, 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.
The speech by the Senator made Bishop Odede to rise to his feet to interrupt and ask him to respect the church’s decision to ban politics inside its sanctuaries.
“Thank you very senator. As I mentioned a little earlier, as a church, we try to minister to people from different political parties without creating any sense of animosity. In a function like this, which in our church, we try to maintain that attitude that everything else comes, whether you are UDA, ODM or Jubilee, you are welcomed here. You need to feel comfortable here that no one is alienating you and no one is saying some things negative. Mheshimiwa, I don’t whether we need to let you go on,” the bishop reacted.
Senator Linturi had no option but to apologize, “Sorry. I’m sorry. These things can sometimes be emotional and apologise profusely to the church. I am sorry. I am really sorry bishop if I have gone beyond,” he apologised.
Late last year, a section of mainstream churches led by Catholic and Anglican announced they would no longer allow politicians to politick during church events.
