‘Dancing on coffins’: Archbishop Muheria lashes out at leaders for politicising burials

Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria has sustained his criticism of the political class and has called out the recent war of words witnessed at a burial in Western Kenya as unfortunate.

Muheria slammed the ruling elite for lacking fundamental respect for something as sacred as a burial ceremony and asked the leaders to look deep within themselves for decency.

“It seems we are not even giving respect to our ancestors. We’ve lost all decorum and respect. Must we dance on the coffins of our loved ones to be popular? Our dear leaders, you must change this music. Have we lost even the moral decency to know that we are human?” posed the clergyman.

Muheria called out the abductions and forceful disappearances ongoing in the country and called out the leaders for being intolerant of their critics.

“It is enough, we can't be commenting in jest about abductions, it doesn’t matter who is guilty about whatever crime you say. That person has a soul, a life and rights. His life is worth more than those few remarks in jest that they make,” said Muheria.

But in a swift rejoinder, Kericho senator Aaron Cheruiyot and Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi have taken issue with the cleric for what they term as interference in state affairs, cautioning him to focus on his core business, which is spiritual nourishment.

“Usikuje kutjifanya ni kama ni wewe ndio Mungu wewe ndio utafungua mlango utatupeleka mbinguni,” said Sudi.


Cheruiyot added: “There’s no authority, even you as a church leader, inakupea mamlaka ya ku decide ati nataka sadaka ya fulani na ya huyu mwingine sitaki. Uwongo.”

A section of church leaders have warned against the politicisation of church pulpits, and want leaders to stop using places of worship to spew out political vitriol.