This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
On Sunday, June 30, Raila Odinga visited Elgeyo Marakwet county, a perceived stronghold of Deputy President William Ruto, and reignited the debate on church donations.
Speaking to residents, Raila Odinga emphasized that churches should insist on knowing where the money being donated to them comes from.
He suggested that those who wish to give to the Lord must also be ready to confess their sins and reveal the truth about the source of their money.
"There are those who are everywhere every Sunday. You cannot just carry sacks of money every Sunday to donate to churches. You must start by confessing and telling the church the truth about the source of money, after that you can donate," Raila Odinga said.
Although the ODM leader did not mention names, it was understood that he was referring to Deputy President William Ruto, who is known for his generous church donations.
DP Ruto had earlier cautioned members of the 12th Parliament against passing laws to stop fundraising activities in churches, warning that such a move would have dire consequences.
He said, "If you read the Bible, it tells us that if you give you shall receive and that you shall receive according to the measure that you give. I have seen some people stressing on why I donate to churches. It is clear they are yet to discover the secret to giving. The secret of receiving more or being blessed is by giving more,"
Suba South MP John Mbadi had proposed a constitutional amendment to force public officers to file returns with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) within 14 days stating the source of their contributions.
