National assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah has revealed how a donation from President William Ruto, which was rejected by the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, will be utilized once it is returned.
Ichung’wah made the revelation while speaking during an Interdenominational Church Service at Kimana, Kajiado on Sunday, December 1, attended by President Ruto and his political allies.
The Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) said that the archdiocese is yet to return the donation to the head of state.
“But let me emphasize that it has not yet been returned. You know I heard others say the other day that the donation has been returned, even the pledge. The President gave out some amount and then said that the next one would come later. Later there are those who say it (the pledge) has been returned, and yet it had not yet arrived. How will you return it, and it has not arrived?” questioned the lawmaker.
On November 17, 2024, the Archdiocese announced the rejection of several donations made at Soweto Catholic Church, in accordance with the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) directives and the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024.
Also Read: Catholic Church Rejects Ruto’s Millions and Bus
The President also contributed Ksh2 million to the fathers’ house construction.
The returned donation shall be distributed to other churches- Kimani Ichung’wah
While announcing that the Church would not take the funds, the bishops further rejected a Ksh3 million pledge for additional construction and a parish bus donation.
MP Ichung’wah while speaking on the rejected donation pledged a share to the bishops present during the Interdenominational Church Service, promising them a piece of the cake when the money is returned.
“If the money you were saying is returned, meaning that you also know it has not been returned, if it is returned, I have a long list I will ask the President if he gets what he is being told shall be returned to give it to me. I shall give you a big share because you have read the Bible so well then, the rest we distribute elsewhere,” said Ichung’wah.
Also Read: Ruto Responds to Catholic Bishops
Catholic Archbishop speaks on rejected funds
Nairobi Archdiocese Archbishop Philip Anyolo on Saturday said the rejected Ksh5.8 million is ready for hand over to the government.
Archbishop Anyolo insisted that the Church is awaiting government instructions on how the money will be returned and that lack of direction from government officials continues to delay the return of the unwanted monies.
This as the church maintained it will not accept donations from leaders who cannot explain the source of the funds with the stance informed by the ongoing efforts to combat widespread corruption.
“This not the first time we are doing it. We have ever done its only that it came out explosively and you people brought it clearly in the media as you did this time, but we have ever done it yeah so, we shall continue, “said Anyolo.
Archbishop Anyolo’s statement comes days after leaders from President Ruto’s camp led by MP Ichung’wah emphasized that they will continue making donations to the church.
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