The Paradox of Faith: Moral Contradictions in Kenyan Christianity

Abstract

On June 25, 2024, Kenyan Gen Z's protests at parliament, which disrupted businesses for nearly two months, highlighted widespread moral decay among leaders in a country where over 80% of the population is Christian. Despite Christianity's long presence in Kenya, it has not cultivated an ethical society, growing in numbers but not in quality. Unlike African traditional religions, which enforced moral standards through cultural institutions, Christianity has failed to instill strong moral values, resulting in corruption, human rights violations, and opulence among Christians, including rogue church leaders. This article contrasts this with Asian economies thriving due to virtue-focused religions and recommends that Christianity adopt traditional African strategies to enhance morality. It urges the church to redefine its influence, promote ethical role models, and condemn immoral members to address greed and irresponsibility, restoring moral and social responsibility in Kenyan society.