First Lady Rachel Ruto on Sunday, December 8, 2024, came out to defend President William Ruto following an uproar over his donations to the church.

Speaking at the AIC Church Pioneer in Eldoret, the First Lady noted that Ruto’s habit of giving handsomely towards various church projects did not start after he assumed power.

Rachel Ruto recalled their situation after moving to Nairobi, where they used to host church leaders at their home, and Ruto would go ahead to give them transport and money to cater to their small needs while in the city.

At some point, Rachel told the congregants that her husband ran broke just to support the men in the cloth. Defending Ruto’s generosity, Rachel explained that it is because of his caring nature.

The First Lady thus assured the clergy that the current pressure would not make Ruto abandon his course on helping religious institutions.

“Mheshimiwa William Ruto, mimi nilimjua kidogo kabla hatujaona. Tunaenda kucelebrate miaka karibu 33 ya ndoa. Yeye anajali maslahi ya watu. (I have known William Ruto for a while now; we are almost celebrating 33 years of marriage. He cares for people’s needs).

“Nakumbuka wakati mwingine, tukiwa Nairobi, tulikuwa tunapata wageni wengi, na yeye alikuwa anatoa pesa anawapatia transport na pesa kidogo ya kujisaidia. (I remember sometime back in Nairobi he used to give money to church leaders for transport and other small needs),” Rachel Ruto stated.

“Nakumbuka siku moja nilimuuliza asubuhi kama angeweza kunipatia pesa kidogo ya matumizi ya nyumbani, akaweka mkono wake kwa mfuko wake na akaniambia sina (One morning, I asked him to lend me money for our domestic use; he placed his hands in the pocket and then told me that he had given out all the money),” she recalled.

“Mimi ningependa kuwaambia msikuwe na wasiwasi sana kuhusu rais wetu. Yeye amekuwa kupeana na atazidi kupeana. (So, I would like to ask you that you should not be worried about our president; he has been giving, and he will continue giving)” the First Lady emphasised.

Ruto’s stance

Rachel’s sentiments come days after President William Ruto made it clear that the church was not in competition with the church.

The President warned that unhealthy competition, driven by certain members of the clergy, could lead to divisions among Kenyans and disrupt peace.

“Let us avoid quarrels. There is no need to offend each other. There is no competition between the church and others, or between the state and the church. We are one partner; we are one country,” Ruto said while attending a church service in Kajiado County.

“We have to be united. We must work together. The church and the state must work together. Leaders from different political formations must work together for the greater good of the country we all love, Kenya,” he added.

This is after the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi declined a Ksh2.6 million donation from Ruto, citing ethical concerns. The move sparked mixed reactions from a section of Kenyans, with some supporting while others opposing the stance.