State House has denied reports that President William Ruto received a refund for the Sh2.6 million donation he made to a Nairobi Soweto parish after the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi declared it rejected.
On Monday, the church announced its decision to return the contributions from both President Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, citing the Public Fundraising Appeals Bill 2024.
Archbishop Philip Anyolo said the contributions violated church guidelines on political donations.
State House, however, maintained that no refund had been issued, contradicting the church’s earlier statement.
“The Church is called to uphold integrity by refusing contributions that may inadvertently compromise its independence or facilitate unjust enrichment. Political leaders are urged to demonstrate ethical leadership by addressing the pressing issues raised by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops,” said Anyolo.
Meanwhile, the rejection of the Sh2.8 million donation has sparked divided opinions among the congregants and residents of Soweto Catholic Church.
The decision, made in line with the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops’ directives, has drawn mixed reactions from members of the Kayole Embakasi East community.
The move by the Archdiocese of Nairobi came barely a week after the KCCB issued a strong critique of President Ruto’s government for failing to fulfill its campaign promises.
On November 14, the KCCB raised concerns over growing public distrust in the government, warning that a “culture of lies” was replacing the integrity and transparency Kenyans deserve.