Clergy call for unity, warn against divisive politics in Good Friday messages

Religious and political leaders across the country led Christian faithful in the commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ, using the Easter season to call for peace, unity, and reflection amid rising political tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Across several parts of the country, Christian faithful gathered in churches to commemorate the symbolic journey of Jesus Christ through the Stations of the Cross, retracing the moments leading up to His crucifixion.

In Nairobi, the Archdiocese Archbishop Philip Anyolo led the faithful in a solemn procession through different parts of the city to mark the occasion, as hundreds retraced the Stations of the Cross in remembrance of Christ’s suffering. Several businesses also remained closed.

Delivering the Archbishop’s message, Holy Family Basilica Administrator Father Michael Ndichu called on Kenyans to embrace sacrifice and service, drawing parallels between Christ’s suffering and the country’s present challenges.

“We have to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ who did everything to save humanity. We must learn to make sacrifices and give ourselves so that we can serve others,” he said.

“There are so many crosses pressing on the lives of Kenyans, corruption, ballooning taxes, and many others. We need to help each other and pray for one another. Even our leaders are called upon to serve others.”

Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, speaking at All Saints Cathedral, urged Christians to anchor themselves in faith at a time when questions about the country’s direction continue to linger.

“During this Easter, just like Jesus Christ, we are asked to surrender all our worries to God. We are invited to surrender all that we have to Him so that He may continually make us strong and grow us deeper in faith,” he said.

“We sometimes ask ourselves so many questions personally and wonder about our country. We ask whether we are in the right direction as a nation. There are those doubting moments in our country, but faith is sustained by being closer to God and waiting on Him,” he added.

His message set the tone for a weekend that, while rooted in religious observance, increasingly reflected the anxieties of a nation edging closer to another election cycle.

In Eldoret, thousands of Catholic faithful thronged the streets in a solemn re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross, led by Bishop Dominic Kimengich. The procession stretched from Kao la Amani through New KCC Road to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, drawing large crowds and effectively slowing down activity in the town.

Shops remained closed, roads fell quieter than usual, and the day took on a reflective rhythm as worshippers retraced the final moments of Christ’s journey to the cross.

Later in the day, Bishop Kimengich led the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, a non-Eucharistic service centered on the veneration of the cross, one of the most solemn moments in the Christian calendar.

Across the wider North Rift region, a similar mood prevailed.

In Trans Nzoia County, churches were filled as residents marked Good Friday through prayer and quiet reflection, while others chose to spend the day at home with their families. Kitale town appeared subdued, with most businesses remaining closed for the holiday.

At AIC Nuru Church, Bishop Benjamin Tarus used the occasion to call for moral renewal and national unity, warning against the dangers of ethnic and divisive politics.

“It is time that all of us give our lives to Christ and take a moment to remember and reflect on His sacrifice. His death on the cross must guide our Christian life and make us better people every day,” he said.

“We must learn to accommodate each other as a people of one God and remain united,” he added, in a thinly veiled reference to the political undercurrents shaping the country ahead of 2027.

For some Kenyans, the day carried a more personal meaning, a rare pause from routine.

“I’m happy to be with my family at this moment. Easter is always special for us, and I am happy that even our children are at home for the holiday,” said Veronica Adhiambo.

In Homa Bay, religious leaders used the Easter holiday to push for civic engagement, rallying support for the Niko Kadi campaign and urging residents, particularly the youth, to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Clerics drawn from different denominations said the region’s large youthful population must take a more active role in shaping the country’s leadership through the ballot.

Homa Bay County Clergy Patron Bishop William Abuka said voting remains a critical civic duty, warning that poor leadership is often a result of voter apathy.

Even as he called for increased participation, Bishop Abuka maintained that the church would remain neutral, allowing voters to make independent choices, and stressed the need for peaceful elections.

“We do not want to see post-election violence. If this process is done correctly, Kenyans can decide their leaders peacefully,” he said.

Pastor Kennedy Odeny of the Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) raised concern over low voter registration in the lake region, calling on youths who have attained the age of 18 to acquire national identity cards and enlist as voters.

The Easter message in the region also extended beyond politics. Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) Homa Bay County Secretary Abdul Masoud used the occasion to advocate for environmental conservation, urging residents to plant trees as part of efforts to mitigate climate change.

“Easter reminds us of new life and restoration. Planting trees is a practical way of living out that message while securing the future for our children,” he said.

Elsewhere in Kisii, hundreds of Christians, particularly Catholics, marked the season through the Way of the Cross, moving in prayerful procession across several towns as they reflected on the suffering and death of Christ.

Led by Father Wilfred Oseko of St Kizito Kegati Parish, the faithful walked from Nyanguru Catholic Church through Matibo and Etangi shopping centres before concluding at Bobaracho Catholic Church.

Fr Oseko urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, show compassion to others, and remain grateful for the gift of life.

In Kisumu, Rev. Fr Fred Odhiambo of Milimani Parish reminded congregants that Easter should go beyond celebration, calling for deeper reflection on the teachings of Christ and their relevance in daily life.

“Let us learn from Jesus Christ when He broke the bread and shared it among His disciples. He did not keep it to Himself. The same should apply to us as Christians.”

In Mombasa, the Easter observance unfolded in a blend of solemn ritual and pointed political commentary.

Christians took to the streets in the traditional Way of the Cross, donning black robes and moving in procession through parts of the city commemorating the final hours of Jesus Christ. The ritual, observed widely across Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran traditions, drew hundreds of faithful.

At the Mombasa Catholic Cathedral, Archbishop Martin Kivuva used the occasion to address both spiritual and political concerns, pushing back against recent remarks by former President Uhuru Kenyatta who had cautioned religious leaders against engaging in politics.

“We have to register as voters and ensure we elect leaders we know. We should ask ourselves why they are giving money to support them. We should stop bribery in politics to make sober choices,” he added.

National leaders also weighed in, using Easter messages to frame themes of hope, sacrifice and national renewal.

President William Ruto, in his message, struck a similar tone, linking the resurrection to resilience in the face of hardship.

“As we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, may this season remind us that after every trial, there is a resurrection and a new start,” he said.

“To every weary heart, may it bring hope and renewed faith… and to our beloved nation Kenya, may it bring strength, unity and love,” he added.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki described the crucifixion as a defining moment of love and redemption, urging Kenyans to reflect and embrace unity.

“The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ is the most powerful demonstration of love ever. On this Good Friday, hope is renewed, redemption made possible and victory over sin is cemented,” he said.

“The Easter weekend remains the most solemn season of the Christian calendar for pause, reflection, renewal and celebration… May every family find peace and clarity and may our nation work together to achieve our destiny,” he added.

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-Reporting by Ndubi Moturi, Anthony Kitimo, George Odiwuor, Wycliffe Nyaberi, Angeline Ochieng, Barnabas Bii, Evans Jaola