Kenyan youth have protested President William Ruto’s gift of 20 million shillings ($155,000) to a church, Jesus Winner Ministry, BBC has reported.
President Ruto had made the donation during a fundraiser on March 2.
But on Sunday March 9 the youth tried to occupy the church, located in the Roysambu suburb of Nairobi, the country’s capital, in a move to get the church to refund the money to the government.
The protesters attempted to light fires and use rocks to block the roads to the church. They also hurled stones, forcing the police deployed to the scene to use volleys of tear gas in a move to disperse them.
The protesting youth demanded the return of President Ruto’s donation and be channelled to pressing national issues such as unemployment and public institutions.
“I’m here because our country’s money is being misused. Why are we giving KSh 20 million to a church when we have no jobs? Universities are closing, and our future is at stake,” Joshua, a Gen Z protester, told Citizen Digital.
In the midst of the violence, the church services progressed amid tight security.
About 38 of the youth were arrested and detained at Kasarani Police Station for participating in the protest. They were later released without charges.
Meanwhile, some of the church’s members have defended the president’s donation and even vowed not to refund the money.
Bishop Edward Mwai of Jesus Winner Ministry condemned the protest, accusing unnamed individuals of mobilising “thugs” to disrupt worship.
“That KSh 20 million you say is too little. We, ourselves, contribute even 40 KSh million to the church,” John Warui, another member of the church, told BBC.
Donation made to curtail moral decay – Ruto
Ruto, an evangelical Christian, has defended his action and even went ahead to make similar donation to another church in Eldoret.
The Nation newspaper quoted the president as saying at Eldoret church that the donation was made in an attempt to address the country’s moral decay.
“Kenya must know God so that we shame the people who are telling us that we cannot associate with the church,” he said.
In 2024, leaders of Catholic and Anglican churches rejected donations, arguing that there was a need to shield the church from being used for political purposes.
Kenyans groaning under tax raise
Since it assumed power in 2022, the Ruto administration has introduced a tax regime, angering Kenyans.
The president had argued that the tax increments were needed to pay off debts incurred by the previous Uhuru Kenyatta’s government. However, Kenyans said he should first tackle public waste and corruption.
In 2024, following complaints and protests, President Ruto was forced to withdraw a Financial Bill, which bore tax increases.