President William Ruto on Sunday assured the religious community that he will, alongside his close political allies continue contributing towards the construction of churches across the country despite announcing a ban on harambees after youth-led protests.
Speaking after a church service in Chebango, Bomet County, the Head of State argued that Kenya has a long-standing tradition where politicians and Kenyans at large come together in fundraisers to build places of worship, which he argued needs to be maintained.
Ruto revealed that as it stands, a bill seeking to legally entrench church harambees and participation of politicians in such events has already been presented in Parliament.
"We have said there will be a different way of how leaders can participate in harambees." President Ruto stated.
The National Assembly which is now in recess will therefore be expected to debate the bill once it resumes on July 23.
Flip-Flopping
The latest remarks by President Ruto are likely to place his pronouncements under the microscope once again, especially since they appear to contradict an earlier policy which he announced.
Immediately after facing fierce opposition from Kenyans over the now withdrawn Finance Bill, 2024, President Ruto on 5th of July announced that all public officers had been banned from engaging in harambees.
However, just days after imposing the ban, the commander-in-chief while speaking during a church service on 14th of July, pledged to cut a cheque towards completing construction of the AIPCA church in Ndogino, Nyandarua County which was partly done by then.
Ruto stated that even though he banned state officers from fundraisings, he saw it fit to ensure that construction of the house of worship was completed.
“There are some people who have pushed us not to do harambees in church, we have been questioning how the church will be built."
Ruto went ahead to request DP Gachagua to consult with the church leaders and for accounts to be audited to determine the balance which he vowed to clear by writing the church a cheque.
Banning harambees was among the issues raised by Gen Zs in their protests. Kenyans had argued that the fundraisers were enabling the channeling of dirty money from corrupt public officials through the church.
