President William Ruto today attended services at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi while his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua participated in worship at PCEA Kerarapon Church in Kajiado North Constituency.
The leaders were accompanied by their respective allies – Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja joined Ruto, while former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala accompanied Gachagua to the PCEA church’s centennial celebrations of mission work. The President’s choice to attend a Catholic service emerges in the wake of substantial criticism from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops who had pointedly accused his administration of perpetuating deception and failing to deliver on its commitments to the public.
During the consecration ceremony of Rev. Peter Kimani as Embu Diocese’s new Bishop, Ruto addressed the mounting tensions between his administration and the Catholic Church. The week had witnessed a progression in the President’s response to church criticism – from an initially defensive stance to a more conciliatory position. His Friday comments had challenged the bishops on matters of truthfulness and consistency, but by Saturday, his tone had notably shifted toward acknowledgment and acceptance of their critiques, earning positive reception from the gathered congregation.
“Tumewasikiza bishop wetu… Vile wametusahihisha hiyo makosa tutarekebisha (We have heard our bishops, where they have corrected us we shall change),” Ruto said.
The underlying tension stemmed from broader concerns about government policy, particularly regarding taxation amid economic hardship. The Catholic bishops had voiced strong opposition to what they perceive as excessive taxation during a period of elevated living costs thus creating strain between religious leadership and state authorities. The installation ceremony of Rt. Reverend Peter Kimani as Embu Diocese Bishop also marked the first time retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto shared a platform in Kenya since the former’s retirement.
The event also saw former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his successor Kithure Kindiki in attendance, their first encounter since Gachagua’s recent removal from office. The ceremony drew hundreds of Catholic faithful and political leaders from the region, with Gachagua arriving first, followed by Ruto with Kindiki, and then Uhuru. Before the ceremony, Gachagua shared Biblical quotations and expressed his best wishes for Bishop Kimani’s leadership.
