Makadara Member of Parliament George Aladwa looked in awe as residents of his constituency refused to be addressed by political leaders outside the St. Stephen Anglican Church along Jogoo road on Sunday, March 16,2025.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka had planned to address the public outside the church in Aladwa’s Makadara constituency shortly after church service where they had, alongside other leaders among them Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, attended the Consecration and Enthronement of the third Bishop of ACK Diocese of Nairobi Canon Jonathan Kabiru at the ACK St. Stephen Anglican Church along Jogoo road in Nairobi.
Following an earlier directive by the ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, barring politicians from addressing the congregation, the Kalonzo-Gachagua resorted to addressing a political rally outside the church before residents refused to accord them an ear, forcing them to retreat and find an alternative ground.
According to our sources, those in attendance refused to be addressed by Gachagua and Kalonzo noting that the area Member of Parliament George Aladwa is the ODM Nairobi chairman and has given them direction to support the new found alliance between President William Ruto and ODM leader former Prime minister Raila Odinga in the road Based Government formation.
Aladwa who is a staunch supporter of Raila Odinga and the ODM Nairobi County Chairman said that even though people have the right to speech, Makadara is a peaceful cosmopolitan area and the residents have resolved not to entertain selfish leaders who are hellbent on preaching tribal politics Gachagua.
“The people of Makadara are peaceful and they have told me that they support ODM and the Broad based government. They are in support of the government of William Ruto and Raila Odinga and do not want someone who will come to talk about a government of shareholders. President Ruto was here during his tour of Nairobi last week and he preached inclusivity, that is what Kenya requires now, “Aladwa said.
Speaking to this reporter, Brian Mulwa, a trader along Jogoo road said that they had refused to listen to empty political rhetoric since the country is facing dire economic strain and it is time to work not politics .
“We don’t need to hear from those who are coming to talk about tribes and shareholdings here. If people had gone to church, let them go back home and help their children with homework not coming to tell is political stories yet our businesses are doing poorly. Ruto and Raila are working together for the benefit of all Kenyans and that is what we want. A conducive environment to work not politics,” Mulwa said.
Following the botched plan to address congregants outside the church, the opposition leaders moved to look for a ground to hastily pull a crowd.
Despite not addressing the congregation and the gathering outside, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was received well by the residents following his recent visit alongside the President on Thursday.
The former Deputy President Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja were among the leaders who attended a service at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Nairobi but were not allowed to address congregants.
Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit firmly declared that no politician would be given a platform to speak in any Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) congregation.
“I want to give direction that from today henceforth, in any Anglican congregation, there will be no opportunity for any political leader to give a speech in the church. We will mention their names, and they will wave to congregants. If they wish to speak, they will do so outside the church,” Ole Sapit stated.
The Archbishop also announced that ACK churches would no longer publicly declare amounts given as offerings, emphasizing that such contributions remain a personal matter between the giver and God.