Divided altar as Uhuru, Ruto turn to clergy again ahead of elections

Catholic faithful follow mass service during Ash Wednesday. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Although a house united in prayer cannot fall, the presidency seems to have defied this norm as President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto turn their gaze heavenwards for divine intervention.

Ten years ago, the two (uhuruto) were brought together by prayers, driven by fear of being convicted of a slew of criminal charges at the International Criminal Court and a desire to lead the country. They started a series of prayer rallies across the country.

Their prayers then were granted. They escaped prosecution and indictment at The Hague-based court and won the presidency, twice. Now in the twilight days of their term, Mr Kenyatta and Ruto - one dubbed the ‘dynamic duo’ have again turned to the church.

In an ironic twist of fate, their political marriage presided over by an army of clergy is on the rocks but still, as Uhuru exits State House and his deputy scrambles to succeed him, each has turned to their own faction of religious leaders for redemption. Last Friday, exemplified how far the once dynamic duo have drifted apart even as they cling to religious leaders.

President Kenyatta hosted an estimated 1,500 clerics at State House Nairobi, to who he unburdened his soul and pleaded with them to go tell their followers the truth about his intentions and love for peace.

He explained why he almost gave up the presidency and how although DP Ruto had been informed of all these developments, he later lied to the public that he had been betrayed.

“The way I was brought up by my father and mother, I do not like lies. I wanted to end the bloodshed and I refused to send the police to disperse Raila Odinga’s swearing-in. When we started negotiations, I told him he could not be part of government and he agreed,” Uhuru told the clergy. And at Ngata Farm in Nakuru, yesterday, about 165km apart, Ruto was on his knees before 5,000 religious leaders who declared they had not gone to Susan Kihika’s home county for a crusade but to endorse the deputy president’s bid to State House.

But even as they blessed and prayed for Ruto, some clergymen in Ngata claimed their colleagues who had travelled to Nairobi, were self-seekers and not spiritually driven.

“The president is our community leader and no one can come between him and our community. The Bible tells us to respect authority and the President is the symbol of authority. We are going to rally behind him and support his choice of the presidential candidate,” said Bishop Stephen Maina of Full-Time Winners Gospel church.

Bishop Maina, the chairperson of the Murang’a Bishops Forum, said they will soon hold prayers in Nyeri to bring together Kiambu, Murang’a and Kirinyaga counties and another session in Meru to bring together Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties and in Nakuru to preach peace and rally behind the president.

“The president, Raila and his running mate Martha Karua will attend and the president will talk to his community about why he chose Karua and Raila,” said Maina.

At Kihika’s residence, the 5,000 clergymen in an apparent reference to ODM leader Raila Odinga and Uhuru who have teamed up against Ruto, said this was against Christian teachings.

“Some of us are following the directives of the Holy Spirit when we support Ruto, our brothers only want to milk the president and that is why they are on that side. Ruto is an ardent Christian and his wife and that of his running mate are part of us,” said a priest who did not wish to be named.

The cleric further took a swipe at persons in government seeking to introduce regulations on the running of churches with alleged discrimination against evangelical churches.

“Ruto has been a man of the church. He was a leader of the Christian Union at university. That alone will make me vote for him. We didn’t come here for a crusade to win converts. We came to show our stand,” said Bishop Gitau.

Dark forces

He took issue with those criticising receiving donations from politicians, saying they have no moral authority to police offerings. “You who is questioning that churches are being given money, where do you take yours?” he said.

Pastor Alex Maina who emceed the event said: “The best gift we can give this man (Ruto) is our prayers. The dark forces will not find him. He is protected by angels with flaming swords.” Apostle Sammy Ngahu, the presiding Bishop of New Creation Churches referred to Ruto as the next king. “William Ruto… that we call him today our David. This anointed servant, you called him not only as a servant but also as a king. We decree that no weapon against ‘David’ William Ruto will prosper,” he prayed.

“2017 I prayed for you at Afraha Stadium. You and Uhuru never came back to say thank you. We know the reason why. 2022, you are here again, not vying as a deputy but as the fifth president.”

Bishop Phillip Nderitu pointed out that the church had suffered in recent years due to regulations that appeared discriminatory. “During Covid-19, they closed down our churches but let bars and markets remain open. In our leadership, we lacked a strong leader to defend the church. Once you (Ruto) are elected, surround yourself with God-fearing persons,” said Nderitu.

“What will make you succeed is how you have stood firm for God. You are being fought because of your offerings. You can’t separate a cleric, altar and offerings. We have decided all our votes shall be in Ruto’s basket,” he said.

Senior elders

The meeting was also attended by a section of senior elders and leaders of the Akorino church, who also distanced themselves from those backing Raila and President Uhuru.

Three weeks ago, when the head of State met Akorino at Kasarani while celebrating 100 years, he gave Sh100 million, gifted them land and gave one of them a state job.

On Friday, Ruto promised to lift various regulations on new churches. “Our competitors are behind the moratorium of stopping registration of new churches. We shall not only lift it but also make the registration process easier,” said Ruto.

He termed the 2014 ban unconstitutional but the government has given a deaf ear to cries of religious groups petitioning for its lifting. Ruto said it was regrettable that persons pushing for reforms to govern religions, do not belong to any group.

“What interest do they have yet they have never built a church nor paid tithe? You can’t interfere with religious books. We shall defend our faith at all costs. It is not negotiable,” said Ruto.

In February, the president condemned church leaders for receiving corrupt money from politicians, in a veiled attack against Ruto who has been donating money to the church.

Kenyatta who spoke in Sagana State Lodge said such leaders will perish in hell. “The money you are receiving is the same money that was to build dams in Elgeyo Marakwet so that God’s children can get water.

In 2013, the two leaders attended church together and after their election, they continued showing up at Churches wearing similar clothes. However, in their second term, the two parted ways and started attending church events separately.

These were times Ruto could attend a church fundraiser and announce to have been sent by his boss and give out the president’s donation.

When cracks started emerging in 2020, the clergy initiated efforts to unite Uhuruto.