Debunk Editorial 03
Reclaiming the Pulpit
There is a lone voice in the wilderness. But is anyone listening?
At the start of 2021, Kenyan media houses developed a sudden interest in the Sunday
sermons delivered at Nairobi’s All Saints Cathedral. They religiously sent camera crews over
– not to cover politicians speaking at the church as is standard practice – but to record the
seemingly unorthodox preaching of Reverend Canon Sammy Wainaina, the Cathedral’s
Provost.
sermons delivered at Nairobi’s All Saints Cathedral. They religiously sent camera crews over
– not to cover politicians speaking at the church as is standard practice – but to record the
seemingly unorthodox preaching of Reverend Canon Sammy Wainaina, the Cathedral’s
Provost.
The seeming unusualness in Rev. Wainaina’s delivery emanates from the fact that the
Provost’s interpretation of the gospel isn’t hypothetically but is grounded in the context of the
goings on in the country today – from grand corruption to political conmanship and
brinkmanship.
Provost’s interpretation of the gospel isn’t hypothetically but is grounded in the context of the
goings on in the country today – from grand corruption to political conmanship and
brinkmanship.
Expectedly, these hard hitting sermons have ended up trending on social media, almost
always accompanied by messages of support for the Provost. In a country where churches
have become convenient playgrounds for politicians – they show up, make a donation
without disclosing the source of their money before they are either prayed for or given an
opportunity to attack their opponents from the pulpit, or both – Rev. Wainaina’s
forthrightness seems revolutionary.
always accompanied by messages of support for the Provost. In a country where churches
have become convenient playgrounds for politicians – they show up, make a donation
without disclosing the source of their money before they are either prayed for or given an
opportunity to attack their opponents from the pulpit, or both – Rev. Wainaina’s
forthrightness seems revolutionary.
And so whether one agrees or disagrees with either the style or substance of the Provost’s
anti-establishment message, it is undeniable gauging from the overwhelming support he
continues to receive both online and offline from Kenyans of all walks of life that at a time of
political and economic darkness such as this, the country is finding light from the All Saints
Cathedral.
anti-establishment message, it is undeniable gauging from the overwhelming support he
continues to receive both online and offline from Kenyans of all walks of life that at a time of
political and economic darkness such as this, the country is finding light from the All Saints
Cathedral.
By using his Sunday platform to speak to the nation’s conscience, the Provost is following in
the great tradition of distinguished men of the cloth who came before him including
Archbishop Manasses Kuria, Archbishop Ndingi Mwana ‘a Nzeki, Bishop Henry Okulu,
Bishop Alexander Muge, Rev. Timothy Njoya, among others, all of whom stood up to
autocracy, some paying with their limbs while others lay down their lives for their beliefs.
the great tradition of distinguished men of the cloth who came before him including
Archbishop Manasses Kuria, Archbishop Ndingi Mwana ‘a Nzeki, Bishop Henry Okulu,
Bishop Alexander Muge, Rev. Timothy Njoya, among others, all of whom stood up to
autocracy, some paying with their limbs while others lay down their lives for their beliefs.
Much as he will attract the wrath of the status quo, the Provost should rest easy knowing he is
on the right side of history.
on the right side of history.
