President William Ruto has once again sparked debate over his frequent monetary contributions to churches, this time promising a Ksh.100 million donation to Jesus Winner Ministry in Roysambu. Speaking during a service on Sunday, Ruto dismissed critics of his church donations, maintaining that he will continue giving to religious institutions as part of his faith and commitment to God.
“I am a product of giving to God and I am unapologetic about giving to God. I do it on the firm foundation of the scriptures,” Ruto told the congregation, which responded with enthusiastic chants of his name.
During the service, the President announced that he would personally contribute Ksh.20 million toward the church’s construction. Additionally, he pledged to organize a harambee, where he and his associates would raise Ksh.100 million to support the project.
“I have accepted to come and do harambee together, and in that harambee, I will go make arrangements with my friends so we can look for Ksh.100 million and bring it here,” Ruto declared, adding that the initiative would serve as a statement to his political detractors. “We will build this church so that we shame our political enemies.”
Ruto’s continued financial support of religious institutions has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters argue that he is a devout leader committed to strengthening the church’s role in society, while critics question the source of these large donations, especially amid Kenya’s struggling economy. There have been growing concerns about politicians using churches as platforms for fundraising, with allegations that some of these contributions come from illicit financial dealings.
The issue has even caused divisions within the church. On November 17, 2024, the Archdiocese of Nairobi returned Ksh.2.8 million that had been donated by President Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja at Soweto Catholic Church. The Archdiocese cited adherence to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) directives and the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024, which seeks to regulate public contributions to religious and charitable causes.
Despite these controversies, Ruto remains steadfast in his commitment to church donations, vowing to continue supporting religious institutions regardless of public opinion. The debate over political leaders’ financial contributions to churches is unlikely to subside anytime soon, as questions persist about transparency and the ethical implications of such donations.
