The Perils of Power: How William Ruto Exploited the Church in Kenya

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

And this time, it turns out, is the season for the Kenyan church to pay the piper. When you sup with the devil, goes the idiom, you better have a long spoon. But the church in Kenya turned up with a demitasse spoon instead. It's time to pay the day's cost.

On the day following Bishop Margaret Wanjiru's close encounter of the up-skirt-thigh-grabbing kind (Bishop, meet the real William Ruto!), it was Apostle Commander Dr James Ng'ang'a's turn to rub shoulders with the Kenya Kwanza government as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) set its sights on the prime property that houses Neno Evangelism Centre, the church that Ng'ang'a built.

EACC has filed a legal action seeking to reclaim the public land parcels originally designated for the Kenya Railways Corporation but now domiciling Ng'ang'a's and Wanjiru's megachurches. It is instructive to note here that the EACC is chaired by former CITAM presiding bishop David Oginde, PhD, FCS.

Ruto's true colours are finally emerging just days after a curious headline flared the front page of a local daily: Churches: How Ruto duped us.

The presidency has always been keen to not only project itself as an act of God, but also to make sure to use church pulpits to proclaim that Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, prayed themselves into power. That bubble is now well and truly burst.

In the volatile arena of Kenyan politics, alliances are often forged and broken, leaving casualties in their wake. Among the casualties of recent political machinations is the reputation of the church in Kenya, tarnished by its star-crossed entanglement with William Ruto. Once hailed as a beacon of moral authority, particularly at the sunset of the Nyayo Error, the church now finds itself ensnared in a web of broken promises and shattered dreams.

The Seduction of Power: A Faustian Bargain

In the pursuit of political power, William Ruto courted the church with promises of influence and patronage. Swept up in the fervour of political campaigns, many church leaders threw their support behind Ruto, believing his pledges to elevate them to positions of prominence within the government. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), whose full disclosure is detailed here, was signed between Ruto and religious leaders and seemed to cement this alliance. It outlined promises of appointments to legislative bodies, government commissions, and other coveted positions.

Betrayal and Abandonment: The Church Left Holding the Collection Bag

However, as the dust settled and Ruto ascended to power, the church found itself abandoned at the altar of political expediency. Promises of appointments evaporated, phone calls went unanswered, and the once cherished relationship between Ruto and the church soured. The stark reality emerged: the church had been used as a pawn in Ruto's pursuit of power, discarded once its utility had been exhausted.

The Consequences of Compromise: A Fractured Faith

The fallout from this betrayal has been profound, casting a shadow over the integrity and credibility of the church in Kenya. Congregants, disillusioned by the church's dalliance with politics, question its moral authority and commitment to serving the interests of the people. The once revered institution now stands accused of putting personal gain above principle, sacrificing its moral compass on the altar of political ambition.

Lessons Learned: A Call to Accountability

As the dust settles on this sordid chapter in Kenyan politics, the church must reckon with the consequences of its actions. It must confront the uncomfortable truth that it allowed itself to be manipulated and exploited for political gain. Moving forward, the church must recommit itself to its core values of integrity, justice, and service to the community. It must reclaim its moral authority and rebuild trust with its congregants, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to serving the common good rather than the interests of the powerful elite.

A Wake-Up Call for the Church

The saga of William Ruto and the church in Kenya serves as a cautionary tale of the perils of political entanglement. It underscores the need for the church to maintain its independence and moral integrity, resisting the temptation to align itself with political power at the expense of its principles. As Kenya navigates the complexities of its political landscape, the church must heed the lessons of the past and chart a course that upholds its mission of justice and service to all. Only then can it reclaim its rightful place as a beacon of hope and moral authority in the hearts and minds of Kenyans.