'You're a murderer!' Pastor Lai calls for respect toward President Ruto, equates hatred for leaders to 'murder'

Addressing his congregation in a recent sermon broadcast on JCC’s official media channels, Pastor Lai referenced Biblical doctrine to condemn what he described as a growing "spirit of hatred" sweeping across the nation.

"Read my lips: if you hate Ruto, you are a murderer. He is a brother," Pastor Lai urged. 

"There is a spirit of hatred that is not Christian, that is devilish. He who hates his brother is a murderer. You may not believe he is saved, but it doesn't matter - he says it himself."

The outspoken clergyman emphasized the theological obligation of believers to respect and uphold those in power, citing divine providence as the ultimate authority behind political leadership. 

According to Pastor Lai, opposing or despising national leaders directly undermines the spiritual stability of the country.

"When God puts a man in authority, all of us in the church must acknowledge that God has done it and pray for them," Lai stated. 

"They may not be perfect, but our responsibility is not to join the evil men to destroy the nation. A hatred of our president is a hatred of our nation."

Citing 1 John 3:15 - a scripture stating that anyone who hates a brother is a murderer - Pastor Lai insisted that his message was divinely inspired rather than politically motivated. 

"I did not talk to him to come talk about it here. I'm a prophet of God. I'm not any man's representative..." he stated. 

Responding to anticipated backlash from political critics and members of the public, Pastor Lai dismissed accusations of political bias or alignment with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, maintaining that his declaration stems strictly from his role as a prophet.

"You can stone me, I don't care. You can say I am UDA. I don't belong to any party. I speak for God," Lai affirmed. 

"He puts one in authority. If I don't talk about this, these are foundations... otherwise our prayers will just be addressing symptoms."

Pastor Lai’s remarks drew swift condemnation across social media platforms, with many Kenyans accusing him of using theology to shield political leaders from accountability amid pressing socio-economic challenges, tax burdens, and governance concerns.

Kenyans on X (formerly Twitter) expressed sharp disagreement with his stance.

Rose Wanja said, "Pastor Wilfred Lai needs to differentiate between hatred and holding a leader accountable. Expressing frustration over high taxation, bad policies, and economic hardship is not 'murder' - it is citizen oversight."

Someone else wrote, "The church in Kenya must stop misquoting scriptures to shield political leaders from public criticism. Calling suffering Kenyans 'murderers' for demanding better governance is a complete misuse of the pulpit."

On his part, X user Nzomo Sam wrote, "Since when did questioning a president's performance become equivalent to hating a brother? Leaders are public servants, not divine monarchs immune to public scrutiny! Romans 13 speaks about authority, but the Bible also commands leaders to act with justice and righteousness."

The pastor’s remarks come amidst ongoing national debates concerning Kenya’s economic trajectory and governance, reinforcing a long-standing discourse over the role of the pulpit in national affairs and civic duties.