NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto hosted Bishop Edward Mwai of Jesus Winner Ministry Church at State House on Thursday, just days after donating Sh20 million to the church and pledging to rally his allies to raise an additional Sh100 million for its expansion.
In a post on X, Ruto said the meeting focused on the progress of the church’s construction in Nairobi’s Roysambu area, a project estimated to cost Sh1 billion.
“Met the Reverend Edward Mwai of Jesus Winner Ministry Church at State House, Nairobi. He also shared with me the progress of the church’s construction in Roysambu,” the President posted.
The meeting came just hours after Jesus Winner Ministry’s leadership addressed public concerns about the President’s financial contribution.
A group of Kenyans had formally demanded that the church return the money, raising ethical and legal questions over the donation.
In response, the church’s Board of Management defended Ruto, insisting that he had been a long-time worshipper at the church.
“On the issue of His Excellency the President of Kenya, Hon. William Ruto’s donation to the church, we wish to clarify to the whole nation that he has been our faithful worshipper since 2009,” said Secretary-General Raphael Mwiti in a statement.
According to the board, the donation was made following a direct request from the church’s overseer, Bishop Edward Mwai, and was intended to support the church’s expansion efforts as part of a 10-year strategic plan.
“By God’s grace, the church can no longer accommodate all its members. Our strategic plan is to build a larger sanctuary on the land we purchased from Uchumi Supermarkets,” the board stated.
During the State House meeting, President Ruto also thanked the church for hosting thousands of job-seeking youths during the government’s Kazi Majuu recruitment drive, an initiative aimed at securing employment opportunities for Kenyans abroad.
“We appreciate Jesus Winner Ministry Church for complementing our Labour Mobility Programme by hosting a recruitment drive aimed at securing jobs for our youth abroad,” Ruto wrote on X.
We appreciate Jesus Winner Ministry Church for complementing our Labour Mobility Programme by hosting a recruitment drive, which aims to secure jobs for our youth abroad. The government will continue supporting this initiative as we work to expand job and income opportunities…
The President’s involvement in church funding has sparked mixed reactions, with critics questioning the source of the money and the intersection of religion and state affairs.
However, supporters argue that Ruto has a long history of supporting places of worship and that his contribution aligns with his personal faith.
While the church leadership has defended the donation, the public debate over state resources, personal philanthropy, and transparency in large contributions continues to unfold.
