Differences between the two camps allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy President William Ruto yesterday played out in public during a church service in Nairobi.
The cause of the wrangling was a demand for an audit on source of huge donations that Ruto has been making to churches.
Former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, MPs Maina Kamanda (nominated), Cleophus Malala (Kakamega, Senator), Joshua Kutuny (Cherengany), Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri Town), Richard Maore (Igembe South), George Aladwa (Makadara) and Ayub Savula (Lugari) asked the church to support the war on corruption by questioning sources of the donations.
Others sharing the opinion at the church were Samuel Atandi (Alego Usonga), Godfrey Osotsi (nominated), Mercy Gakuya (Kasarani), Caleb Amisi (Saboti), former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli.
However, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko defended Ruto on his donations to churches, saying there was nothing wrong in public display of generosity.
They leaders spoke during the COTU prayer day at St Stephens' ACK in Nairobi.
Kalonzo commended the stand by the church not to accept "dirty" money from corrupt individuals.
The Wiper Party leader pointed out that a section of politicians was amassing wealth ahead of the 2022 General Election, saying this was abetting corruption.
He also took on Ruto for his recent donations amounting to millions of shillings to churches, urging him to make his donations "quietly".
“If you feel you must give and you feel God has blessed you, then do it quietly,” said Kalonzo.
Mr Kamanda said he was not against donations to churches but clarified that he was opposed to those made by corrupt individuals capable of laundering money through the churches.
“You are allowed to donate Sh10 million to the church, but you should stop showing off. Stop seeking praise and cheers from the church each time you make a donation. If you are genuine, do it secretly and God will bless you,” said Kamanda.
Mr Sonko said the DP was not the first to publicly show off his huge donations, saying other leaders before him had done the same.
“I think there is a difference between tithe and harambee for a church. Without making the donations public, then the congregation will not know the good deeds that their leaders are doing for them,” argued Sonko.
Mr Ngunjiri urged the church not to compromise its integrity by accepting dirty money. “The church will not stop operating if you stop taking money from the corrupt. God will take care of his flock,” he said.
Mr Atwoli insisted that Ruto would not be on the ballot come 2022.
"We cannot have two centres of power in the same Government. There is also no short cut to leadership or riches. With or without the referendum, we are going to hold elections and those that are anti-corruption should not be intimidated,” said Atwoli.
