Deputy President William Ruto has explained why he stopped making contributions towards the construction of church buildings in the country.
During a church service in Vihiga County while in the company of Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetangula on Sunday, February 6, the DP disclosed that he would not make contributions to the church for the next seven months.
Ruto, who has been famed for his contributions worth millions to churches, stated that he was complying with the requirements issued by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that bars aspirants from engaging in Harambees.
“I have engaged in the building of the church all over the world. I know that when you see me you say that the man who builds the church has arrived.
“I cannot do whatever we wanted to do towards the building of the church because the law right now does not allow us to make contributions or engage in Harambees in church,” he explained.
However, the DP stated that he would continue with the contributions after the August 9 elections.
“The moment the law will allow us to do so. I am giving my undertaking that I will return and we shall complete this church building,” he stated.
During a meeting with a senate committee on December 1, 2021, IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati, explained that all political aspirants would be barred from engaging fund drives from December 9, 2021, until the end of the August 9 polls.
"On the issue of harambees, after December 9, it becomes an election offence,” Chebukati stated then.
According to the Election Act, section 26 an aspirant who engaged in Harambee after the set date risks being blocked from contesting in the polls.
“A person who directly or indirectly participates in any manner in any or public fundraising or Harambee within eight months preceding a general election or during an election period, in any other case, shall be disqualified from contesting in the election held during that election year or election period," read the Act.
The contribution of cash by the DP has been criticised by his opponents, especially ODM leader Raila Odinga, who have often demanded that Ruto explain the source of his wealth.
