This archive report was first published on 27 October 2021.
Deputy President William Ruto's gesture of goodwill to the African Church of the Holy Spirit has turned into a tragic event after the church's high priest, Bishop Shem Shamala, died on October 27, 2021.
The bishop had been ill for some time and had been wasting away at his Tumbeni home, where he put on a brave face during Ruto's visit on September 18, 2021. The church's doctrine, which upholds divine healing, does not allow hospital treatment.
During the visit, Ruto donated a Suzuki Vitara to the church, handing it over to Bishop Shamala, in a bid to support the church's gospel ministry. Ruto likened the church believers to hustlers, saying it lacks missionary support from abroad.
Speaking after attending a church service at the church's head offices near Malava town, Ruto said, 'When the church's top leadership visited me, they told me that their bishop moves around on a boda boda, yet he is a very high-ranking person in the society. So I told them that I would buy them a bishop's car in his gospel ministry. So I have today come here with that car so that our bishop can use it.'
However, the bishop's death has sparked tension ahead of his burial on Saturday, with some faithful linking it to the car, claiming someone may have eliminated the priest out of jealousy.
