The Unwanted Prodigal Son: Kenyan churches turn their backs on Ruto's government

From time immemorial, Ruto has been known to be a stalwart Christian. He prominently celebrated his electoral wins in church, taking his political campaigns on pulpits, and consequently developed a habit of fundraising money for the same houses of prayer.

Likewise, the church conceived an affection for Ruto's political semantics and welcomed the camaraderie that morphed into strong allegiances over time, all this time, of course, with Ruto's wife Rachel Ruto at his bosom.

The church even played a pivotal role in catapulting Ruto to the presidency. Since then, Ruto has been indebted to "give back" to the church and has even invited prominent religious leaders to the State House.

However, the friendship has turned sour. Recently, on November 17, 2024, the Archdiocese of Nairobi returned Ksh.2.8 million donated by President Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

The Archdiocese rejected the money made at Soweto Catholic Church, saying that the rejection aligns with Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) directives and the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024.

The Governor of Nairobi Johnson Sakaja donated Ksh.200,000 to the Parish Choir and Parish Missionary Council (PMC), while the President donated Ksh.600,000 to the same organisations.

President Ruto also contributed Ksh.2 million to the Father's house construction.

Further, the bishops rejected a Ksh.3 million pledge for additional construction and a parish bus donation.

The Archdiocese confirmed that any funds previously received in violation of these directives would be returned to donors.

Archbishop Philip Anyolo, speaking on behalf of the Archdiocese, emphasized the Church's strong opposition to using its platforms for political gain.

The incident came as a spit on the face to Ruto but it was however anticipated.

The Holy Battle

At the height of the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests in June, the church joined protesters in calling for a revision of the unpopular bill which sought to further choke Kenyans with tax deductions.

The Holy Family Basilica and the Catholic Church at large called on Kenyans to voice their concerns about the unsavoury Bill, terming it oppressive and endorsing calls for its rejection.

Following the deadly June 25 protests, when Parliament was invaded, the PCEA Township Church Kitengela stopped its services and held a two-minute silence to honour the two young men who died during the protests.

The calls for vigilance, sobriety and integrity in governance slowly started swelling as many churches started censuring the state for poor leadership.

When the clergy vehemently questioned the Social Health Authority, the university education funding model, the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and investigations into extrajudicial killings and abductions in the country, the government went on a rage rave.

KCCB accused the government of engaging in a "culture of lies" and "unkept promises" while at the same time overtaxing Kenyans who are grappling with the high cost of living. 

They also criticized the government for unexplained abductions, killings and forced disappearances since the height of the June-July nationwide anti-government protests.

"We recall other pertinent unresolved issues we have raised recently with the government, over taxation of Kenyans, the hiking of the Missionary work permits, youth unemployment, regulations of the Education system especially the CBC, and University loan scheme, the failure to constitute the IEBC, etc," the statement read in part. 

Ruto seemingly ate his humble pie on November 16, during the consecration service of Rev. Peter Kimani as the new Bishop of Embu Diocese, he said he had heard the concerns raised by the KCCB and that he would review the issues they highlighted when they accused him of entrenching a deeply rooted culture of lies in the country.

"Tumewasikiza bishop wetu… Vile wametusahihisha hiyo makosa tutarekebisha,” he said.

"Juzi nilipata salamu kutoka kwa maaskofu… Jumapili ntaenda kanisani iwe wiki complete."

As soon as he started praising his SHA reforms, customary to his Sunday service addresses, the crowd heckled him to remain mum.

Waking from slumber

Law professor and activist Patrick Lumumba has termed the Kenyan Catholic and Anglican churches’ recent criticism of the government and public refusal of politicians’ donations “heartening.”

“The concatenation of events as outlined is heartening,” Prof Lumumba said in a letter to the KCCB Chairman Maurice Makumba and ACK's Archbishop Sapit.

“They reveal a Church that is waking from its hitherto self-induced slumber and is now giving meaning to these words in the scriptures.”

The professor lauded the clergy, further challenging Kenyans to support the church in “seeking to moral re-arm our country for the sake of this generation and generation yet to be born.”

“Your graces, permit me to thank you for coming out to remind our politicians that occupying positions of leadership is a privilege and that money must not be used to dominate and blind the citizenry from seeing harmful indiscretions,” he added.

The Roman Catholic Church and ACK are the largest Christian denominations in Kenya.