Church Leaders at Divine Church Chekalini Strongly Oppose Proposed Taxation and Government Control

 By Wasike Elvis

Church leaders, educationists, and youth representatives drawn from the Divine Church headquarters in Chekalini have voiced strong opposition to proposed government plans to tax churches and impose strict regulations on religious institutions, warning that such measures threaten freedom of worship and risk crippling churches that serve poor and vulnerable communities.

The leaders were speaking during a special meeting held at the Divine Church Chekalini headquarters to mark the opening of the year. The gathering brought together clergy, church members, educators, and youth leaders in a session dedicated to prayer, reflection, and discussion on national issues affecting the church and the country at large.

During the meeting, congregants and church leaders offered prayers for President William Ruto, his Cabinet, and all leaders, calling on them to work together in unity and wisdom for the benefit of all Kenyans. The leaders emphasized the importance of peace, cohesion, and responsible leadership, especially at a time when political temperatures are beginning to rise ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Call for Peace and End to Politics of Hatred

Archbishop Gabriel S. Imbali, the Archbishop of the Divine Church, led the prayers and delivered a strong message urging political leaders to reject tribalism and the politics of hatred that he said are increasingly being witnessed across the country.

“As a church, we pray for peace in our nation. We are calling on politicians to stop politics of hatred and division. Kenya belongs to all of us,” Archbishop Imbali said.

He reminded leaders that political power is temporary and that leadership ultimately comes from God.
“Politics come and go, but God remains. It is God who chooses leaders, and therefore politicians must preach peace and unity, not division,” he added.

Opposition to Government Interference in Church Affairs

The Archbishop strongly criticized what he termed as growing government interference in church operations, saying religious institutions should be allowed to function independently without intimidation or excessive regulation.

“The government should not interfere with churches. The church must remain independent so that it can freely serve the people and speak the truth without fear,” Archbishop Imbali stated.

He argued that churches play a critical role in society by providing moral guidance, counseling, charity, and social support, especially to families living in poverty. According to the Archbishop, taxing churches would directly hurt the very people the government claims to protect.

“Our congregants are poor. Many have nothing. They have children who need school fees, food, and care. As a church, we help them. How then can the government tax churches when we are already struggling to support the needy?” he posed.

Clergy Warn Taxation Will Cripple Churches

Reverend Samuel Achaga of Divine Church Chekalini supported the Archbishop’s remarks, warning that taxation would severely affect the church’s ability to operate and serve the community.

“We depend entirely on contributions from our congregants, who themselves are poor. Taxing the church would be very difficult and unfair,” Rev Achaga said.

He warned that such moves could amount to an infringement of constitutional rights.
“As a church, we believe taxing churches will lead to the loss of the right to religion and worship. People should be allowed to worship freely without fear of government control,” he added.

Opposition to Proposed High Registration and Compliance Fees

Head teacher Fred Juma Chesoli, who is also a leader at the Divine Church Chekalini headquarters, raised concerns over proposed church regulations that could see churches charged fees of up to Sh10 million.

“This is unacceptable. It is like the government is turning the Word of God into a business,” Chesoli said.

He called on President William Ruto, whom he described as a leader who respects the church, to intervene and scrap the proposed rules.

“We are calling upon President William Ruto to do away with these regulations. The church is not a business enterprise. Its role is to support the government by nurturing morals and helping reduce crime in society,” he said.

Chesoli further argued that government control of churches is unnecessary and unconstitutional.
“The issue of the government controlling churches is uncalled for. As a church, we will not allow this because it infringes on the right to worship,” he stated.

Call for Government Support to Churches

In a bold proposal, Chesoli urged politicians to consider tabling motions in Parliament that would see churches supported through public funding, similar to the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).

“Just as schools are built using CDF funds, churches should also be supported because they serve the community,” he said.

He noted that many indigenous churches lack external sponsors and rely entirely on poor congregants.
“Our church is indigenous. We do not have sponsors. Our members are poor, yet we continue to serve them. Instead of taxing us, the government should support us,” Chesoli added.

Youth Leaders Issue Warning to Politicians

Representing the youth, Boas Bonke issued a stern warning to Members of Parliament, saying leaders should lead by example before introducing taxes on churches.

“Before churches are taxed, Members of Parliament should also be taxed first as an example to the rest of the country,” Bonke said.

He warned that the youth would not support leaders who pass laws that harm churches and religious institutions.
“If Members of Parliament pass this bill, we will vote them out. Our church is poor, and taxing it will only make things worse,” he stated.

Bonke appealed directly to President Ruto, urging him to listen to church leaders and protect churches from punitive taxation.
“President Ruto, you are a Christian. Please listen to church leaders and do not allow the taxation of churches,” he said.

United Stand by Church Leaders

The meeting concluded with prayers for peace, unity, and wisdom among Kenya’s leaders. Church leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting harmony, moral values, and social responsibility while urging the government to respect the independence of religious institutions.

They maintained that churches should be viewed as partners in national development rather than targets for taxation and control.