‘We have enough pastors!’ Gov't questioned for funding Rachel Ruto, Dorcas Rigathi offices

Nominated MP John Mbadi has criticised President William Ruto’s government over what he calls a waste of public funds to run First Lady Rachel Ruto and Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi’s offices.

Mrs Ruto’s Office of the First Lady has since 2022 been involved in initiatives around religion and women's economic empowerment under a strategy she has christened ‘faith diplomacy’.

On the other hand, Mrs Rigathi who had been a pastor long before Rigathi Gachagua became the deputy president, has through the Office of the Spouse of the Deputy President been running ‘boychild empowerment’ programs targeting Kenyan youth hooked on drug and substance abuse.

Both offices have been allocated Ksh.1.2 billion in total for the 2024/2025 financial year starting July, with Mrs Ruto's office getting Ksh.696.6 million and Mrs Rigathi’s Ksh.557.5 million.

But Mbadi says Ruto’s government has misplaced its priorities by pumping public funds towards the two offices as Kenyans grapple with a high cost of living.

He says Kenyans do not need Mrs Ruto and Mrs Rigathi’s religious leadership.

“What is the priority? You are creating the office of the First Lady and the wife of the Deputy President and giving them money to go and pray across the country? We have enough pastors and evangelists!” Mbadi told Citizen TV’s Daybreak program on Tuesday.

“We don’t need the president’s and deputy president’s wife to preach to us; that is not a priority. If they want to, let them do it without involving our taxes.”

The nominated MP criticised Ruto for urging Kenyans to 'tighten their belts' over increased taxation as his government spends money on projects like the Ksh.11 billion renovation of all State Houses and State Lodges.

“The problem with our expenditure is not salaries but operations and maintenance. That is why the youth are in the streets telling us we cannot claim to be tightening our belts as you tax us, yet you are renovating all State Houses at a go,” Mbadi added.