By Reuben Olita -Busia
Anglican Church of Kenya Katakwa Diocese Bishop John Okude has told off politicians who are now pleading to him to offer them prayers with no support forthcoming since time immemorial.
In a sermon based on Psalms 9:3 & 12, Psalms 39:12, and Mathews 5:18, during the burial service of the pioneer councillor for Malaba Town Council, Peter Okuni Orapidi, 73, at Osasame village in Malaba North Ward on Thursday, Bishop Okude said politicians have no respect to the church leadership.
” You two sitting Members of the County Assembly Patrick Omanyala ( Malaba North) and Gardy Obara Jakaa ( Bukhayo North/ Walatsi). How many letters did I write to you to attend our functions?
The Bishop added: ” After being prayed for you, don’t come to our harambees, celebrations, and other meetings, and yet you are now pleading to me to offer you prayers. Politicians, you have very dirty hearts.”
Bishop Okude added: ” We must agree to walk together. You now want me to pray for you. I take you where? We must walk together. Next time, manage your churches and manage your Christianity . Politics will not prevent you from seeking your God.”
He went on:” We need everybody in the journey of eternity. It’s better to have clean hearted people than those with rotten ones.”
The Bishop said the huge turnout at Okuni’s burial was a wake-up call to leaders and Christians to have clean and not dark hearts to attract mourners to their burials when they die.
Okude’s tenure as the third Bishop of Katakwa Diocese comes to an end in February 2026 after attaining the mandatory age of 65 years with fresh elections expected to be held. Bishop Eliud Ekiring was the pioneer Bishop and Zakayo Epus becoming the second.
Even in the absence of two gubernatorial contestants, Arthur Osiya and Eng Vincent Sidai, they were represented with pledges of their physical presence to condole with the deceased family.
Hon Gardy Jakaa urged voters to vote for PAS Arthur Osiya with Bilal Mohammed rooting for Engineer Vincent Sidai’s election as the next governor of Busia County.
“Bishop, let’s kneel down and pray for one of our sons to face incumbent Dr Paul Otuoma in 2027 gubernatorial elections. Mohammed is pulling from that side, and Gardy from this side. Let’s not bring shame on the way,” MCA Omanyala said.
