Bishop Mwai: I know who sent 'thugs’ to protest at Jesus Winner church

Bishop Edward Mwai of the Jesus Winner Ministry church in Nairobi’s Roysambu area claims people he knows mobilised “thugs” to demonstrate at the house of prayer on Sunday.

The protest, organised online under the #OccupyJesusWinner hashtag, is due to President William Ruto’s March 2 Ksh.20 million donation pledge and a further Ksh.100 million for an upcoming construction fundraiser at the church.

It sparked outrage from dissatisfied Kenyans who criticised the clergyman for accepting such a donation from the President amidst austerity calls.

A section of online users threatened to stage a demo at the church, and come Sunday, a contingent of police officers was deployed at the compound.

Addressing faithful at the church, Mwai, without naming anyone, said he knew those behind the planned protest and accused them of “using our children”.

“People I know very well used them and even sent some here today. Someday, they will know there is God’s presence at this altar. May God forgive our children who are being used in such a manner,” the city preacher said.

“Some of those are thugs wearing Jesus Winner badges here. Please do not touch them, we are a peaceful church.”

He told his followers he had forgiven those who insulted him following the donation pledge, saying, “I leave it to God; may he forgive them.”

Mwai previously told Daily Nation he had received abusive phone calls from Kenyans since last Sunday and had to get new mobile phone numbers.

"I have received more than 5,000 abusive messages and cannot make calls," he was quoted by the newspaper on Thursday as saying, adding that he had yet to receive a coin from the Head of State as part of the donation pledge.

At the church service last Sunday, President Ruto also allocated the Jesus Winner Ministry church a contentious land plot in Roysambu that he said the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) had handed over to the flamboyant pastor.

Then, later in the week, Ruto shared photos of him hosting the man of cloth at State House, Nairobi, and praised his church for hosting a recruitment drive “to secure jobs for our youth abroad.”