President William Ruto has strongly defended his continued financial support for religious institutions, rejecting claims that his donations are politically motivated. Speaking at Jericho African Inland Church in Makadara, Ruto compared his critics to the devil and vowed to continue funding church construction projects.
The President dismissed concerns raised by some religious leaders and members of the public, stating that supporting places of worship aligns with his faith. “We shall shame the devil. The devil cannot prevent us from developing our country or building our places of worship,” Ruto said.
Church Guidelines on Political Donations
His remarks come amid growing debate over political donations to religious institutions. The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) recently issued new guidelines barring politicians from speaking during services, publicizing their donations, or being given special recognition within churches.
Despite this, Ruto reaffirmed his commitment, citing recent pledges, including Ksh 20 million for the Jesus Winner Ministry in Roysambu and plans to mobilize Ksh 100 million for its construction. These donations have sparked public scrutiny, with critics questioning their source.
Accompanied by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and MP George Aladwa, Ruto insisted that his support for churches would continue, saying, “I don’t need anyone’s permission to donate.”
With religious institutions increasingly wary of political influence, the debate over church donations is expected to persist, even as the government accelerates its development agenda.
