President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua delivered different messages from church pulpits on Sunday, highlighting growing political tensions in Kenya.

At AIC Church in Kibra, Nairobi, President Ruto outlined ambitious development plans for the capital’s informal settlements.

Accompanied by Governor Johnson Sakaja, he pledged to rebuild the church destroyed during the 2007/08 post-election violence and refurbish the dilapidated Fort Jesus Road within three months.

“I was recently in Soweto, where I gave a similar directive. The road was done. The same will happen here,” Ruto assured congregants.

The President announced sweeping infrastructure projects, including expanding youth employment in city clean-up from 20,000 to 50,000 positions.

Housing initiatives will deliver 26,000 units across Kibra-Lang’ata, with 4,600 units already under construction in Mukuru and thousands more planned.

Addressing Nairobi’s housing crisis, where 60 per cent of residents live in slums, Ruto called the situation “unacceptable”.

He said the government will allocate Sh500 million in the next financial year to fix illegal electrical connections that have caused deadly fires in informal settlements.

In sharp contrast, Gachagua’s address at AIPCA Church in Kiambu was politically charged and confrontational. The former Deputy President criticised Kenya Kwanza alliance MPs, saying they had betrayed the movement, particularly targeting those opposing his new Democratic Congress Party (DCP).

“The only problem we have is that we elected stupid people. When given just Sh100,000, they betray the nation. All the betrayers must go,” Gachagua declared, dismissing claims that his party is tribal by pointing to successful rallies in Kakamega.