Tanga Tanga dares Mbadi on church donation Motion

Deputy President William Ruto (third right), Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos (second left), Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (second right) and other leaders during an interdenominational church service at Chebororwa Primary School in Elgeyo Marakwet yesterday. [DPPS]

Deputy President William Ruto and his allies have dared Minority Leader in the National Assembly John Mbadi to table a Motion seeking to limit donations to churches, warning it will be defeated.

Dr Ruto, flanked by seven MPs, vowed to continue donating money to finance development programmes in churches despite criticism by Opposition.

The DP said the Government would work closely with churches and support them in various projects.

“As a Government, we will work closely with the church and religious leaders. We can’t allow laws that will undermine services offered by the church in Kenya. This is a country that recognises God and therefore contributions should not be limited by any law,” said Ruto.

He accused individuals sponsoring the Motion to limit contributions in churches of undermining the social roles played by the church.

Mr Mbadi, who is also the ODM chairman and Suba MP, recently wrote to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and proposed amendments to the Public Officer Ethics Act that would cap fundraising donations to churches to a maximum Sh100,000.

The DP was accompanied by Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wa, Caleb Kositany (Soy), Julius Meli (Tinderet), Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East), William Kisang (Marakwet West), Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Woman MP Jane Chebaibai in fundraising for several churches in Chebororwa, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Others were Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, his Deputy Wisley Rotich and Keiyo South MP Daniel Rono.

Mr Ichung'wa slammed ODM leader and Opposition Chief Raila Odinga, accusing him of instructing Mr Mbadi to take the Motion to the National Assembly.

“Stop instructing MPs in your party on what to do. We are in Jubilee and we have not seen President Uhuru Kenyatta instruct us on what to do in Parliament,” Ichung'wa said.

Mr Murkomen dared Mbadi to introduce the Motion to Parliament, saying it would face a humiliating defeat. Murkomen said churches brought civilisation to the country and should be supported.

Mr Kositany said: “Mbadi should bring the proposed legislation so that the country knows those who support the church and those who are against progress in our churches.”