ABSTRACT

This chapter looks at the ways in which Anglican leaders in Kenya used Christian theology and their pulpit to challenge the regime of President Daniel arap Moi. It shows how the sermons were used as a platform for political and social transformation in Kenya during the decade of 1980–1990, the first years of the struggle for political change, a multiparty system and democracy. The chapter focuses on Dr. David Gitari, who not only shaped the political debate through his sermons, but also led the struggle and set the path for others. Once Moi was defeated, it seemed that most mainstream churches, Anglican included, focused on humanitarian help following violent clashes in the post-election era, but altogether withdrew from their position as the safeguards of human dignity. Interestingly, since the turn of the 21st century, some Pentecostal churches in Kenya, previously either supportive of the regime or silent on political matters, became vocal in their political criticism of the regime.