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President William Ruto has convened a meeting with Evangelical and Pentecostal church leaders in State House Nairobi as he seeks to establish harmony with the clergy.

In a statement on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, moments after meeting the clergy led by Redeemed Gospel Church Presiding Bishop Kepha Omae, Ruto called on religious leaders to work with the government in ensuring national cohesion and providing social services, including education, health and helping the vulnerable.

“Religious faiths and the State serve the same people and have always worked together in ensuring national cohesion and providing social services, including education, health and helping the vulnerable. We commit to maintain this partnership. Hosted Evangelical and Pentecostal church leaders, State House Nairobi, who were led by Redeemed Gospel Church Presiding Bishop Kepha Omae,” Ruto stated.

This comes at a time when the president is at loggerheads with the church, with a number of churches having been forced to reject or return millions of shillings he has donated to them.

Speaking on Sunday, December 1, 2024, after the church rejected his donations, Ruto clarified that the state and the church are not in competition.

While downplaying the rift, the president pleaded with various church leaders to drop the exchange of words and champion unity. The Head of State indicated that the recent war of words between some men of the cloth and lawmakers is unwarranted.

“There is no need to hurl insulting words; there is no need to be in competition; there is no need of all the other things. I want to ask you to calm down; there is no competition between the church and the state. We are partners, and we are one country,” Ruto stated.

Back in November, Nairobi Archdiocese Bishop Philip Anyolo rejected Ruto’s donation.

President Ruto had attended a church service at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi accompanied by Governor Sakaja, during which he made several donations.

During the service, Ruto donated Ksh600,000 to the church choir, while Sakaja gave Ksh200,000. Ruto at the same time gave Ksh2 million for the construction of the parish priest’s house and pledged another Ksh3 million for the same.

The Head of State at the same time promised to deliver a bus to the church in January.

However, Anyolo cited a directive by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops that banned such donations.

Archbishop Anyolo further stated that the Nairobi Church will maintain a firm stance on politicians’ donations, highlighting the church’s need to safeguard itself from being used for political purposes.