Father Ambrose Kimutai, who in the 1990s hosted Raila Odinga (inset) and other opposition leaders at Kaplong Parish in Bomet County
When Father Ambrose Kimutai Tonui was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1993, Kenya was at a political crossroads.
The country had only recently embraced multiparty democracy after years of one-party rule.
He quickly found himself drawn into the national push for political freedom. From his parish in Kaplong, Bomet, he opened church doors to opposition leaders seeking a platform to speak to citizens—turning the pulpit into a beacon of defiance and hope in a region firmly loyal to the ruling Kanu regime.
However, the Kanu regime, even after yielding to sustained pressure from the opposition and international community, could not let opposition leaders freely engage with Kenyans and sell their political ideals.
The opposition included former Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, regarded as the doyen of opposition politics; DP leader Mwai Kibaki, who rose to be president; Ford-Kenya’s Kijana Wamalwa; Ford-A founder Keneth Matiba; then Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga; and then Ugenya MP James Orengo.
“I was newly ordained at St Peter and Paul Kaplong when I worked with Raila and other opposition leaders to promote multiparty politics,” said Fr Kimutai, an outspoken Catholic priest.
Raila Odinga addresses his supporters during a rally at Ndanai in Bomet County on July 5, 2017.
“As a church, we came in to expand the democratic space and open the eyes and minds of the people in a Kanu stronghold to embrace multipartism for the good of the country.”
Bomet and Kericho counties were considered Kanu strongholds, with senior politicians led by then Cabinet ministers Jonathan Ng'eno, Kipkalya Kones and John Koech leading the campaign to fend off opposition onslaught.
Fr Kimutai became a marked man as he repeatedly outwitted security agencies by hosting opposition leaders, including Mr Odinga, in Kaplong Parish, Bomet, for political activities disguised as church services. Security officers repeatedly attempted to disrupt his functions by threatening the faithful with arrests, but they held their ground, allowing the opposition leaders to attend services and address the people thereafter.
“My relationship with Raila held to date, started in 1993 after the repeal of Section 2(A) of the old constitution in 1992 that paved the way for multiparty democracy and opened the lid off the human rights record in the country.”
Fr Kimutai said he was repeatedly asked to stop hosting the politicians, but he defied security administrators and Kanu bigwigs.
“I offered Raila a platform in a Kanu stronghold to meet residents and share his progressive political ideals, one that would change the political thinking and socio-economic development in the country,” Fr. Kimutai stated.
“Raila was a strong proponent for democracy, respect for human rights and the general well-being of the people. He was one of the few selfless politicians in the country that I have come across,” stated Fr. Kimutai.
“The fact that Raila forgave former President Daniel Moi, who incarcerated him for eight years and even after he “won” an election in 2007, he worked with Kibaki, and after losing in 2012 and 2022, he worked with Uhuru and Ruto, speaks volumes about his character. Here is a man who took his incarceration, rigging out in a Presidential election and losing graciously as he felt the country was bigger than him,” he explained.
Catholic Priest Ambrose Kimutai who repeatedly hosted Raila Odinga and other opposition leaders at Kaplong Catholic Parish in Bomet County.
The clergyman said Kenyans need to re-examine their blind following of Presidential candidates and judge them by their economic policies and human rights record.
“Unfortunately, a party’s or presidential candidate’s policies do not matter in an election as it is decided on a tribal basis. Had policies been a driving force, Raila would have ascended to the presidency a long time ago and changed the socio-economic challenges in the country,” Fr. Kimutai said.
“We have lost a statesman who was consistent in seeking to politically liberate the country, and the best the opposition can now do is to unite and put checks and balances against the government to ensure it delivers on its mandate,” Fr Kimutai said.
“It is important for the President to work towards holding the country together by sticking to the agreements with Raila and the Orange Democratic Movement party on human rights and sharing of the national cake even as he seeks to bring more partners into government,” he added.
The priest has written to the Leader of Majority in the Senate, Aaron Cheruiyot and his National Assembly counterpart Kimani Ichung’wa and all political parties to honour Mr Odinga by seeking to uphold human rights, further open the democratic space in the country and improve the economy.
“It will be very difficult for the opposition to get a leader who will fit into Raila’s shoes in the coming days. There is a high possibility of the opposition unity further disintegrating ahead of the next general election,” Fr. Kimutai said.
He said the gap between the rich and the poor was widening, thus the need for all parties and leaders to address the key issues that would ensure equality and equity prevail in the country.
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