Ruto promises church cheque days after hinting at halting harambees

President William Ruto has vowed to write a cheque to help in the completion of a church building, days after announcing that a Bill banning state officers from harambees is ready.

Speaking after attending a Church service at A.I.P.C.A Ndogino, Nyandarua County on Sunday, July 14, 2024, the Head of State asked the presiding priest to forward to him all the remaining costs and vowed to bankroll the completion.

While promising to write the cheque, Ruto indicated that he had been pressured to stop church harambees.

However, the Head of State noted that views that will be collected on the proposed Public Fundraising Appeals Bill will help formulate policies that would be applied going forward.

He assured the congregants that the Bill would help protect the church from receiving proceeds of corruption.

“Kuna watu wametusukuma sana ati ata harambee muache kanisani. Sasa hii kanisa tutajenga namna gani? Uzuri hio sheria italetwa kwenu kwa ile public participation (There are people who have really pushed us to stop harambees in churches. Now how will the churches be built? The good thing is that the Bill will be brought to you through public participation forums).

“Nyinyi ndio mtasema ile tuwe na taratibe nzuri ndio ufisadi isiingie kanisani lakini tuendelee kujenga kanisa kwa taratibu ambayo ina heshima na neno la Mungu (You will have the final say so that corruption does not creep into the churches but we find a way of continue building churches but in a more structured way that respects the word of God),” Ruto stated.

“Kwa hivyo hii kanisa yenu naona mumeng’ang’ana imebaki kidogo. Sasa hio mahali imebaki ni yangu. Sasa wewe Gachagua mupangane na yule priest mufanye hesabu ni shilingi ngapi imebaki, mnipatie niandike cheque muendelee kumaliza kanisa (For that reason I can see that you have quite a progress in this church construction. What is remaining leave it to me. Now you Gachagua (Ndaragwa MP) plan with the priest, do the maths and tell me the money required then I will write a cheque), the President promised.

Ruto bans harambees

On Thursday, June 11, 2024, the President told Kenyans that the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill is now ready for publication.

This followed an earlier declaration on July 5, 2024, where the President insisted that no state officer would be allowed to participate in fundraising activities.

The president also directed the state officers to keep off philanthropic activities.

“The Attorney General is hereby directed to prepare and submit legislation to this effect and develop a mechanism for structured and transparent contribution for public, charitable and philanthropic purposes,” Ruto said.

This is after several leaders were accused of dishing out millions during harambees at the expense of harambees. Some members of the public questioned the source of the money given out during those harambees prompting President William Ruto to act.

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