President William Ruto has reiterated his commitment to working with religious leaders, saying the State is not in competition with the church despite perceived cold wars.
Recently, the church has been at the forefront of castigating President Ruto's administration for poor leadership and failed promises after the 2022 General Election , signalling the end of two years of cordial relations between the state and the church.
The Catholic Church fired the first salvo at the State with a hard-hitting statement two weeks ago, followed by the rejection of a donation by President Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
President Ruto had offered the money for the construction of a priest's house and as a gift to the choir during a mass on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at Soweto Catholic Church in the capital Nairobi.
On Sunday, President Ruto adopted a conciliatory tone, saying the state and the church were not in any competition and urging the church to forge a unity of purpose with his administration.
"The State is not in competition with the church. The church must work with the State to unite Kenyans. We cannot move forward as a country on a divisive foundation," Dr Ruto told an interdenominational church service in Kimana town, Kajiado South Constituency.
The President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Musalia Mudavadi (Prime), Kipchumba Murkomen (Sports) and Soipan Tuya (Defence), Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and his Narok counterpart and Patrick Ntutu, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and a host of MPs led by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa.
President Ruto promised to buy a mega tent for the international church organisation Kimana before Christmas. However, Dr Ruto indirectly hinted that he had not received the money from the Catholic Church, despite Nairobi Catholic Archbishop Philip Anyolo indicating that the money had been returned.
"I will not use the money to be returned (referring to the money rejected by the Catholic Church) to buy you a tent. State House Comptroller Katoo Metito will ensure that you have the tent before Christmas," he added.
Dr Ruto drummed up support for Taifa Afya and urged Kenyans to register in large numbers to enjoy the benefits of the recently introduced Social Health Authority.
"The first two administrations before us tried but failed to implement a fair health insurance scheme. Despite the teething problems, we will ensure that it succeeds. The Bible tells us to be our brother's keeper. The new medical scheme brings equality and does not discriminate against the poor as the Bible teaches," he added.
President Ruto promised Kajiado residents that his administration would fast-track the handover of Amboseli National Park to the Kajiado County government.
"By next week, the handover Bill will be tabled in both the county and National assemblies as required by law to finalise the handover. I appeal to the residents of Amboseli Wildlife Circuit not to encroach on the land," he added, reiterating his administration's commitment to the upcoming livestock vaccination exercise to boost the livestock sector.
"The Bible is against preachers who sow seeds of discord among their followers. President Ruto is trying to help the poor in society through SHA, but he is being opposed in the pulpit. We see hypocrisy in a section of the church," said Mr Kingi.
Mr Ichungwa waded into the church-State cold war, saying the Catholic Church had not returned the donation from the President which it rejected. He accused the Catholic Church of what he called shadowboxing.
"I can confirm that the money that was rejected has not been returned. We do not want hypocrisy, so many churches are waiting for their share of the money. Let's be honest, how can the church claim to have returned what has been promised?" wondered Mr Ichungwa.
Governor Lenku said local spiritual and elected leaders had reached a consensus to accept donations from President Ruto.
"Our local spiritual leaders and the political class are ready to accept and ask for more from President Ruto in support of church programmes.
Kajiado Senator Samuel Seki pleaded with President Ruto to consider the deplorable Ilasit-Rombo road.
