President William Ruto has promised to give Ksh10 million for the construction of a church along Outering Road in Embakasi, Nairobi.
Ruto, who attended service on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at Stewards Revival Pentecostal Church, said the church had been partly affected during the construction of the Outering Road and that it needed a reconstruction.
The Head of State, while speaking at the church, acknowledged the existence of new rules that aim at stopping public servants from participating in church fundraisers but said he would use a different approach to give his contribution.
Ruto on his contribution
Ruto stated that the Ksh10 million he has promised would not be given through a harambee.
According to the first in command, he will mobilise his friends and family members to raise the funds, which he will eventually take to the church for the construction to be completed.
President Ruto said he had been invited to the special service to mark the 14th anniversary of the church, which he could not afford to miss based on his relationship with Stewards Revival Pentecostal Church head bishop Samuel Njiriri.
Sunday service, Stewards Revival Pentecostal Church, Nairobi. https://t.co/OwuprZubKM
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 15, 2024
The president arrived in the country at 6 am on Sunday morning from his visit to the state of Germany.
“Nilimaliza kazi kitu saa tisa na nusu hivi huko Ujerumani, lakini sasa nikakumbuka kuna Bishop Njiriri ananingojea. Mimi huyo mbio hadi airport, nimefika hapa saa kumi na mbili leo. Furaha yangu ni kwamba nimetimiza kuja katika kanisa la Stewards to celebrate with you. Na mimi nataka niseme kanisa hii imebarikiwa. Kwa sababu mnaombea nchi yetu, na mnaombea watito wetu. Asanteni sana for standing in the gap for our nation.
“Mlisema tulikuja hapa 2010, na kanisa hii ilipata majeraha kidogo wakati barabara hii ilikuwa inatengenezwa. Bishop ametuuliza kwamba hii kanisa tujenge sasa ikuwe kanisa ya kisasa na askofu unajua mimi najulikana sana kwa kufanya hii kazi na, you can count me in.
“Kuna mambo mengi yametokea katika harambe na michango, tukasema tuweke taratibu ya vile harambe zitakuwa zinafanyika katika taifa letu. Na kwa sababu hiyo, mimi nishakubaliana na akofu Njiriri, na marafiki nikiwa na familia yangu na watu ya hapo, na nimesema yakwamba nitapanga na milioni kumi nitaleta. Lakini sio harambee, ni my contribution. Nitaweka mtaratara ya kupanga hiyo.
Ruto ban on 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 he 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.
Ruto contradicts himself
Days later, Ruto contradicted himself when he promised to write a cash cheque to help in the completion of a church building.
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, Ruto 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.
