A church in Nairobi came under fire on Sunday, June 19, after it displayed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) flag-bearer William Ruto's campaign poster during their worship service.
In footage seen by Kenyans.co.ke, an image of the campaign material was projected onto a screen during the praise and worship session at the Jesus Winner Ministry in Roysambu.
The DP was attending the service alongside his running mate Rigathi Gachagua, embattled Nairobi gubernatorial hopeful Johnson Sakaja and other UDA and Kenya Kwanza leaders.
The footage has since gone viral, with Kenyans questioning why the church would blatantly engage in campaigning for a presidential candidate during prayers.
"Running campaign posters in church like Ruto at is doing at Jesus Winner Ministry in Roysambu is the height of abuse of the pulpit," David Maina remarked.
After the sermon, Ruto promised that he would bring to an end a land tussle in which the church had lost part of its property. He promised to recover the land and allocate them a portion of government land once he assumes office.
While addressing the congregation, Sakaja maintained that his academic qualifications were legitimate and that he would not back down from running for governor. The Senator claimed that there were plans to arrest him, adding that he feared nothing.
"I know that my papers are right, I went to school and have served the people of Nairobi. I am not fazed even by the threats to arrest me," the Senator reiterated.
However, on June 17, the National Police Service (NPS) Spokesperson Bruno Shioso dismissed claims that the Nairobi Senator had been arrested following his appearance at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.
Shioso, stated that Sakaja presented himself to the DCI HQ following earlier reports that he was under investigation over the authenticity of the degree.
"The Senator presented himself at DCI Headquarters following earlier newspaper reports that he was wanted by police over the university degree matter being canvassed by courts and electoral mechanisms," stated Shioso in a statement.
The Inspector General of police Hillary Mutyambai later ordered criminal investigations into Sakaja and Machakos gubernatorial candidate Wavinya Ndeti to establish the authenticity of their academic papers.
On Sunday, June 19, Wavinya breathed a sigh of relief after the IEBC tribal dismissed a petition challenging her academic credentials.
