That is corruption: MP Robert Mbui on Kindiki's Ksh.2M church donation

Speaking on Moday's Daybreak show, the lawmaker explained that the amount politicians donate to churches surpasses their salaries, raising questions on the sources of their wealth. 

The MP argued that DP Kindiki has ceded to pressure from his political allies by embarking on donating millions to the church, something he did not do while serving as Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS). 

"When people take money to church and donate millions, it puts pressure on all their political opponents to do the same," Mbui said. 

"When Kindiki was Interior CS, he was not going to harambees giving money but the day he became DP, he had Ksh.2 million to give in a church. That is not politics; that is corruption." 

The MP noted that the process of eliminating corruption should come from the top office and cascade to the lower levels in government. 

Mbui's remarks referred to Kindiki's Ksh.2 million offering to AIPCA Central Western Archdiocese on November 17, 2024.

During the service, Kindiki announced that Ruto had also sent a Ksh.5 million offering for the church. 

"Rais amenituma ya sadaka ya Ksh.5 million. Nasindikisha hiyo sadaka ya mkubwa wangu na sadaka yangu binafsi ya Ksh.2 million," Kindiki stated. 

According to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the president and his deputy are entitled to a monthly gross salary of Ksh.1.4 million and Ksh.1.2 million respectively. 

Recently, the Kenya Kwanza administration has been in the crosshairs of the clergy who criticised the State for unfulfilled election campaigns more than two years into office. 

Further, the Catholic church returned Ruto's Ksh.2.8 million and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja's Ksh.200,000 donations meant for constructing the parish priest's house. 

Archbishop Philip Anyolo cited that the donations contravened the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024 and noted that the church must reject contributions that compromise its independence. 

In response, President Ruto maintained that he would not stop giving offerings to churches, noting that he is 'a product of giving.' 

"We have absolutely no apologies to make as we give to God because God gave first. We understand the word of God enough to know that it is more blessed to give than to receive and that is what we are going to do," Ruto said during a church service in Kericho on Sunday, November 24. 

"We will build our churches and we will work together to spread the word of God. I have helped build 30 churches in 30 years and I have never lacked because I know the secret in giving and I know what it does," he added.