The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chairperson and former presiding Bishop of Christ Is The Answer Ministries (CITAM), David Oginde, has sent a chilling message to corrupt officials after he delivered a powerful prayer at State House on Wednesday, July 30.
Oginde, who was at the State House for the Conflict of Interest Act Assent, wove the prayer with biblical warnings and spiritual symbolism, a move that sparked debate online.
Referring to biblical figures such as Achan, Ananias and Sapphira, and Judas Iscariot, the bishop warned of divine judgment upon those who conspired to defraud the nation.
''When Ananias and Sapphira conspired as husband and wife to circumvent that which had been put in place by the leaders of their time. Again, your judgment came upon them. They dropped dead in the very presence of many people,'' Oginde partly prayed.
The prayer was delivered in front of top government officials, including President William Ruto, Cabinet Secretaries, National Assembly and Senate Speakers and Members of Parliament.
Although Oginde’s tone was sober, it was sharp and piercing, as he called for the president’s signature on the new law to carry the heavenly force and judge harshly whoever was against the new law.
''I know there are individuals, there may be couples, and there may be families who conspire to defraud our country of the limited resources that we have as we put this law in place,'' Oginde prayed.
''I pray that as our president appends his signature on this law, that signature will be from heaven and with the force of heaven, so that those people who may be tempted to circumvent it will face not the justice of the land only, but also the justice of heaven,'' the chair continued.
Shortly after the prayer, social media erupted with Kenyans and even leaders commenting on it. Some hailed the chairman for the prayer, terming it the right direction for fighting corruption.
''No matter how hard you try to silence us in public, the truth will still knock—right at your door in the State House. Thanks a lot, Bishop, for delivering the memo so gracefully,'' Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa said while commenting on the prayer.
The timing of the prayer comes at a time when Kenyans have been grappling with a series of high-profile corruption scandals, including allegations of misappropriated public funds and procurement irregularities.
Oginde’s message appeared to target not just individuals but the entire network that enables systemic theft of national resources.
