Taking the frontline in the war against corruption Anglican Church of Kenya leader Jackson ole Sapit spoke on general principles about the church and political cash donations and further proposed rejection of the money.
Although no names were mentioned, Deputy President William Ruto and his band of supporters were quick to see the statement as an indictment pointed in their direction.
Deputy President William Ruto later hit back at critics as the ‘dirty money’ in churches debate rages on.
Ruto said his faith comes first before ‘politician’ titles.
“Since Sunday school we learned to kneel before and worship GOD that’s the ONLY reason we stand before men,” he said.
“We will continue to worship Jehovah with our hearts and substance.”
As he ramps up, his 2022 presidential campaign, the DP has revived a trend last witnessed during the regime of President Daniel arap Moi when politicians crisscrossed the country dishing out large amounts of cash and on Saturday, Deputy President William Ruto toured Wajir East Constituency on Saturday for a development tour in the company of North Eastern leaders among them Garissa MP Aden Duale who opened a volunteer and Jogbaru secondary schools.
The Deputy President conducted the funds drive for Wakf for Madarassa in Tarbaj constituency and according to Duale, the funds drive raised over Sh61 Million.
DP Dr @WilliamsRuto conducted a funds drive for Wakf for Madarasa, Tarbaj constituency. We raised over 61M.
“A person who follows a path for acquiring knowledge, Allah will make easy the passage to Paradise for him.”
“A Muslim will not tire of knowledge until he reaches Heaven” pic.twitter.com/g0wmdTYtn4— Hon. Aden Duale (@HonAdenDuale) May 4, 2019
It is expected that one other major mainstream denomination, the Catholic Church, will soon come out to decree a rejection of ‘political funds’. Although Mr Ruto will not be mentioned, any criticism of the culture of politicians dishing out money in churches immediately points the finger at Mr Ruto.
Ruto has reintroduced something akin to the displays associated with the likes of the former Limuru MP, Kuria Kanyingi (1943-2014), where it wasn’t just about giving to charity, but about obscene displays handing over for the cameras foot-high bundles of banknotes. Donations by bankers’ cheques, bank transfers or direct bank deposits would not do where the political optics matter more than the Christian message.