Archbishop of Nairobi Philip Anyolo said the cash would be returned and declined other pledges from

Kenya’s Catholic Church has rejected a donation of about $40,000 (£32,000) made by President William Ruto.

He offered the money towards the building of a priest’s house and as a gift to the choir during Mass on Sunday at the Soweto Catholic Church in the capital, Nairobi.

The donation followed a recent statement by Catholic bishops, who had hit out at the government for failing to fulfil their electoral promises.

Churches have been under pressure this year from young anti-tax protesters who have accused them of being too close to politicians.

Following Ruto’s much-publicised donation on Sunday, many Kenyans urged the Catholic Church to reject the money.

The president had given around 2.6m Kenyan shillings ($20,000, £16,000) in cash, pledged the rest of the money later and also promised to give the parish a bus.

The Catholic Archbishop of Nairobi, Philip Anyolo, said the cash would be returned over “ethical concerns and the need to safeguard the Church from being used for political purposes”.

He also declined his other pledges and said a donation of 200,000 Kenyan shillings made by the Governor of Nairobi, Johnson Sakaja – who attended the same service, was also being handed back.

“The Catholic Church strongly discourages the use of church events such as fundraisers and gatherings as platforms for political self-promotion,” Archbishop Anyolo said.

Such donations were in breach of the church directives as well as the Kenyan law, he added.

The long ties between churches and political institutions – in a country where more than 80% of the population are Christian – seem to be fraying.

Three years ago, established churches banned politicians from using the pulpit during services in return for donations.

But the relationship was still perceived to be close – with young demonstrators accusing the churches of siding with the government when it decided to impose new taxes earlier this year.

Under the social media hashtag #OccupyChurch, many hit out at the churches for failing to take their side during the deadly protests that erupted in response to the planned tax hikes.

The uproar forced President’s Ruto’s government to withdraw the controversial finance bill in July.

Then last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops – which represents all Catholic bishops in the country – accused the government of perpetuating a “culture of lies”.

In a scathing statement, it also raised issues about over-taxation, corruption, violation of human rights, freedom of speech, unemployment as well as a “crumbling” education system and healthcare services.

“Despite the calmness we are experiencing, there is a lot of anxiety and most people are losing trust in the government,” it said.

In response, President Ruto appeared to hit back at the clergy, saying “we must be careful to give factual information lest we become victims of the things we accuse others of doing”.

A senator allied to government, Aaron Cheruiyot, also accused the church of “misinformation”, adding that the “clergy must avoid being purveyors of propaganda, fake news and falsehoods”.

Many of Kenya’s Christians are Catholic – estimated to number 10 million, about 20% of the population, according to government statistics.

Other Christians belong to a variety of evangelical churches and other denominations, including the Anglican Church of Kenya – which has defended the Catholic Church’s position.

Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit said the Catholic bishops had reflected the feelings of many Kenyans.

“Calling church leaders names or dismissing the bishops’ statement as ‘misleading, erroneous and false,’ is itself dishonest,” he said.

“The [Catholic] bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth as things are on the ground.” (BBC)

Four students of Nigerian descent have been sentenced for their involvement in a violent disorder that took place in Leicester during the early hours of November 4, 2021.

The confrontation, involving knives and a baseball bat, escalated into a large fight on New Park Street, leaving an 18-year-old man with four stab wounds requiring hospital treatment.

After a complex investigation involving CCTV analysis, phone tracking, and public appeals, the suspects were identified and charged.

A six-week trial concluded in October, with the following sentences handed down on November 14.

Destiny Ojo, 21, of Plumstead, London: seven years for violent disorder, attempted grievous bodily harm (GBH), and GBH with intent.

Habib Lawal, 21, of Bexley, London: five years for violent disorder, attempted GBH, and GBH with intent.

Ridwanulahi Raheem, 21, of Lambeth, London: three years for violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.

Joshua Davies-Ero, 21, of Bexley, London: two years for violent disorder.

A fifth defendant, Justin Asamoah, 22, of Merton, previously pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and will be sentenced on November 22.

Detective Constable Sean Downey emphasised the severity of the incident, saying: “This incident highlights the serious danger of violent disorder.

“It is extremely fortunate that further injury was not caused to the people involved or to other members of the public who witnessed the incident. This could have been a very different investigation.”

He added: “Thank you to everyone who assisted us throughout this investigation. As a force, our priority is to keep the public safe.

“We will not tolerate violent disorder in our communities and will take action against those responsible.” (Vanguard: Text, Excluding Headline)

. Enlists public support for drug war in keynote speech at Island Club Business Forum

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has charged the Nigerian elites to key into the whole-of-society strategy by the NDLEA to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.

Marwa gave the charge in his keynote speech at the Island Club Business Forum in Lagos on Tuesday 19th November 2024. According to him, “This is not a challenge for government alone. All of us are stakeholders on this issue and it is an assignment for all Nigerians. The standard whole-of-society approach to the drug issue is such that everyone is a stakeholder. The future of Nigeria belongs to us all.

“As we are doing our bit at NDLEA, we expect society to complement our efforts by taking a huge role in preventing the young ones from falling into situations that encourage experimentation with drugs, whether licit or illicit. Every one of us has a role to play, and the simplest role is one of advocacy.

By spreading the message, we can all become anti-drug abuse advocates. Spreading the word about the dangers of misuse of drugs can go a long way in shielding more lives from the ruins of illicit drugs. The Island Club can also join in this effort to safeguard the wellbeing of our society from the drug menace.”

He told the gathering of business leaders, students and parents that since the retooling of NDLEA three years ago after he assumed leadership, the Agency has ramped up its drug demand reduction and drug supply reduction efforts leading to significant results, adding that the call for everyone to support the ongoing effort has become imperative because of the forecast by UNODC in 2021 World Drug Report that drug use in Africa will rise by 40% in Year 2030 especially among those within 25-29 and 30-34 age groups as a result of population growth.

“By and large, the outlook of the future will depend on our action or inaction at curbing the drug abuse trend. I, being an optimist, believe the future favours Nigeria―only if we get the matrix right. A lot has been said about the future belonging to Africa. Indeed, the potential is glaring, when you factor in the continent’s burgeoning youth population, the digital aptitude of the younger generation and the enterprising spirit of young people.

“But a lot of work has to go into the making of that vision. If we read the statistics correctly, the world’s biggest drug problem of the future could be in Africa. So, the future could be bright or bleak; it could be one of boom or gloom; it could be decades of prosperity or problems depending on the amount of work we are willing to do today. Tomorrow, the saying goes, belongs to the people who prepare for it today”, he stated.

He said the enormity of the problem is further reflected by the anti-drug activities of the NDLEA in the past three years. “In just three years, we have arrested 52, 901 traffickers, including 52 barons, and 9, 034 have been convicted. The barons we have arrested are not anonymous people in society. They include big business people and socialites—some of them have chieftaincy titles—and also government officials, including those tasked with maintaining law and order. That tells how deeply the rot had eaten into the fabric of our society. Within the period, we have seized 8.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs and destroyed 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms”, the NDLEA boss added.

Other invited guests who spoke on the menace of drug abuse at the forum include: Prof Harry Ladapo, a consultant psychiatrist and Prof Lere Baale, President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy.

In his welcome remarks, Chairman of the Island Club, Omoba Rotimi Olasode Martins acknowledged Marwa’s unwavering commitment to combating drug abuse adding that “his wealth of experience in tackling this scourge inspire us all.”

He described “drug abuse as a menace that has infiltrated every layer of our society, threatening our youth, destabilizing families, and undermining the socio-economic fabric of our nation.”

“Today, we are gathered not only to discuss its devastating impact but, more importantly, to explore practical, sustainable solutions to this epidemic. This event exemplifies what Island Club has stood for since its inception – a hub for meaningful discourse, community engagement, and solutions-driven dialogue.

“As we embark on this journey today, let us remember that the fight against drug abuse is not just about enforcement or legislation, it is about building a society that offers hope, opportunities, and support to its citizens.

Together, we can create a Nigeria where our young people can thrive, free from the shadows of addiction”, he added.