Ruto to Raila: I won’t stay away from harambees

Deputy President William Ruto has vowed to continue participating in fundraisers, saying “it is my source of blessings”.

In an apparent reply to criticism by Cord leader Raila Odinga, Mr Ruto said he and President Uhuru Kenyatta would continue to give money in spite of Mr Odinga’s protests.

On Saturday, Mr Odinga challenged Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta to reveal the source of the money that they were giving in fundraisers.

On Sunday, Mr Ruto said: “Some people are complaining why President Kenyatta and I gave contributions towards the construction of an ACK church in Bondo. Pray for such people.”

Addressing a congregation at the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Ziwani in Nairobi, Mr Ruto said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive and I find many people struggling with why people are giving in church, they have not discovered how to tap blessings.”

At the same time, he insisted that Kenya would not allow homosexuality, which he described as unchristian.

His sentiments came just days ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to Kenya and after the US Supreme Court declared same-sex marriages legal in all the states of America.

ANTI-GAY CAUCUS

On Monday, an anti-gay caucus, led by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission and the Kenya Christian Professional Forum, will hold a demonstration to condemn the lifestyle.

Mr Ruto, who was accompanied by his wife Rachael and several MPs, promised to help the Ziwani church raise the Sh30 million it needs to build an administration block.

MPs Maina Kamanda (Starehe), Dennis Waweru (Dagoretti), John Ndirangu (Embakasi Central) and Nominated Senator Beth Mugo used the occasion to also take a swipe at Cord leaders, saying they should also learn to give donations and stop whining.

“Harambees were initiated by the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta to help people and if you do not want to give donations to help Kenyans, let those who want to give do so,” said Mr Kamanda.

And Mr Waweru said: “those against fund-raisers should start going to their local churches and give donations instead of making noise during funerals”.

He called on the Opposition to stop criticising Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru.

Mrs Mugo also defended Ms Waiguru and asked the Opposition to give the Jubilee administration a chance to lead the country.

“Women should stand strong and defend Ms Waiguru because she has done a lot in Kibera, which has embarrassed the Cord leader who has been MP for many years but had done very little,” she said.

“We want to ask them to leave Waiguru alone as she has helped the youth a lot.”