Tension unfolded on Saturday, September 20, 2025, during the burial ceremony of Pauline Chelimo Kipkore, the aunt of Kapseret Member of Parliament (MP) Oscar Sudi. The ceremony, held in Uasin Gishu County, took an unexpected turn when Sudi clashed with a Catholic priest who sought to stop politicians from speaking during the event.
The priest reportedly reminded mourners that church platforms should remain sacred and free from political interference. However, Sudi interjected, asking the clergy to respect the mourners’ wishes as they paid their final tributes to his late aunt.
“Mimi nataka niombe Kanisa tafadhali kwa heshima kubwa, hatujakuja kufrahi hapa na huyu senge nimeteseka naye sana, tunataka tumpatie heshima,” Sudi told the priest.
His remarks come just ten months after the Catholic Church issued a strong directive urging politicians to avoid turning the pulpit into a stage for political messaging. On November 18, 2024, Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Archdiocese of Nairobi emphasized that political rhetoric undermines the sanctity of worship spaces.
“Politicians are urged to refrain from turning the pulpit into a stage for political rhetoric, as such actions undermine the sanctity of worship spaces,” Archbishop Anyolo said at the time.
The Archbishop further stressed that while politicians are welcome in church, they should attend as ordinary Christians seeking spiritual nourishment, not as leaders pursuing political gain.
The clash at Sudi’s aunt’s funeral has once again brought to the fore the delicate balance between respecting cultural mourning traditions and upholding the church’s position on political neutrality.
Observers note that the confrontation highlights a recurring tension between Kenya’s political class and the clergy, especially during public ceremonies that attract both leaders and the faithful.
As the debate continues, the incident underscores the church’s challenge of maintaining neutrality while accommodating the realities of Kenya’s highly political society.
