President William Ruto has reiterated his pride in leading a religious nation, emphasizing that Kenya’s freedom of worship should never be taken for granted. Speaking on Tuesday night during an Iftar dinner for Muslim leaders at State House, Nairobi, Ruto described Kenya as a deeply religious country where faith plays a central role in governance and societal values.
“I am very proud as President of this country that I lead a religious nation, and I want to tell you that we must never take it for granted that we have the freedom of worship in Kenya and that we can worship God however we want,” Ruto stated.
The President underscored that Kenya’s religious foundation is a source of strength and national unity, adding that a nation without God lacks a future. He called on citizens to actively uphold their faith, arguing that the country is better off when its people believe in and practice their religion.
“To continue not just believing in God, but doing something about it, because we are all the better as a nation if we believe in God. A nation that doesn’t have God in its equation is a nation that has no future,” he remarked.
However, his sentiments come at a time when various churches in Kenya have moved to limit the role of politicians in worship spaces. The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), led by Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, has banned politicians from addressing congregants during church services. The policy, which applies to all leaders—including President Ruto—aims to preserve places of worship for spiritual purposes rather than political engagements.
“We have said that even if the President was here, we will still do the same. Because we want what happens in the worship sanctuary to be respected, and other communication will be given out there because it would not be part of worship,” Archbishop Sapit stated during a service in Nyeri County.
This move reflects growing concerns over the politicization of religion, with some religious leaders calling for a clear separation between faith and political discourse. As churches enforce these measures, it remains to be seen how political leaders, including Ruto, will navigate their engagement with religious institutions moving forward.
