This archive report was first published on 2 November 2019.
On May 7, 2019, Deputy President William Ruto's Karen home in Nairobi was the venue for a unique gathering of over 4,000 Luhya church leaders from the African Divine Church.
The event, which was ostensibly religious and financial in nature, saw the clergy engage in fervent prayers and a sumptuous buffet, with sources indicating that the men of God were publicly rumbling and shoving each other in a bid to get the top layers.
Among the notable attendees were MPs Mwambu Mabonga (Bumula), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Mary Wamaua (Maragua), Malulu Injendi (Malava), Bernard Shinali (Ikholomani), Nixon Korir (Langata), Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), John Waluke (Sirisia), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), and former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale.
Deputy President Ruto, in his address, asked the churches to consider joining SACCOs in a bid to improve their economic status, stating, 'We know as members of the clergy you do not get enough money like other Kenyans. To help you, you should come up with a program of raising funds and later take loans when in need.'
He further emphasized the need to mobilize local resources to fund the country's development, in addition to foreign loans and taxes, adding, 'SACCOs in Kenya have raised Ksh.500 billion and we want you as the Divine church to join in the mobilization of local resources through SACCOs so that we can fund our development.'
The African Divine Church of Kenya has since asked Ruto and other political leaders not to shy away from participating in the development of churches.
