President William Ruto has hit back at the organizers of the Occupy Jesus Winner Ministries protest in Nairobi, shortly after police lobbed teargas and arrested over 30 youth demonstrating in the city.
Speaking during a church service at AIC Fellowship Annex Church in Eldoret on Sunday, the President warned those opposing contributions to churches in Kenya, insisting that they had no place in the country.
Ruto maintained that as the head of state, he would continue donating to churches despite growing public criticism.
"Those who are against the word of God and the building of sanctuaries in Kenya will fail. They will not succeed, they will not overcome us," Ruto stated.
"I want to say that in this nation called Kenya, God will be known. For the avoidance of doubt, because of the pushback from those who do not believe in God, who do not believe we should be building churches, and who do not believe we should be supporting the work of God in Kenya—I want to declare, as the leader of this nation, that God will be known.''
"As a country, we shall stand firm in our faith. We will continue to build places of worship and support the work of God because that is our foundation, and no amount of opposition will change that," he added.
The Head of State's remarks come just hours after 38 youth were arrested and detained at Kasarani Police Station by officers from the General Service Unit (GSU).
Speaking during the Sunday service, Bishop Edward Mwai confirmed that some of the youths were apprehended after arriving at the church with their phones, which they intended to use to mobilize additional support for the planned occupation.
However, Mwai announced that he had asked the police to release the arrested individuals out of forgiveness.
"I know that there were people who were using them, and as we speak, some have been arrested and are being held here. But I have forgiven them and said they should be freed. People will come to know that there is God at this altar," Mwai stated.
Further, police were forced to lob teargas at the Royasambu roundabout in Nairobi after hundreds of youths who had threatened to march to the church staged protests.
The youth engaged the police in running battles that disrupted traffic on a section of the busy Thika Road in Nairobi.
