A Catholic commentator challenged statements from Archbishop Philip Anyolo and Cardinal John Njue, asserting the Church had received communication from Pope Francis regarding a vehicle donated by Deputy President William Ruto during a 2019 Kisumu installation ceremony.
The writer highlighted Pope Francis' 2018 decision to auction a Lamborghini Huracan gifted by Lamborghini CEO Stephen Domenicali, emphasizing that 'unfit' donations from wealthy individuals should be sold to benefit the poor. This contrasted with claims that accepting gifts empowered religious institutions, a notion the writer rejected as promoting dependency.
The argument drew on historical examples, including a 1980s incident in Zaire where a priest received a vehicle from President Mobutu Sese Seko. After Mobutu mandated that priests' vehicles remain unsearched, some clergy allegedly exploited the immunity for ivory smuggling operations.
