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What began as a routine church service at Jesus Winner Ministry in Nairobi’s Roysambu area quickly spiraled into a national controversy. Bishop Edward Mwai, the church’s spiritual leader, finds himself facing mounting criticism after President William Ruto pledged Ksh.20 million to the church, with an additional Ksh.100 million promised for an upcoming construction project. The gesture, meant to support the church’s expansion, has instead fueled a firestorm of debate, with many questioning the morality of such a donation amidst Kenya’s economic struggles.
As news of the donation spread, discontent simmered among Kenyans, many of whom took to social media under the hashtag #OccupyJesusWinner to express their outrage. Critics argued that religious institutions should not be beneficiaries of state funds, particularly when the government has been calling for austerity measures. What started as an online protest soon escalated, with calls for physical demonstrations at the church compound.
By Sunday morning, tensions had reached a boiling point. A large contingent of police officers was stationed at the church, prepared for any disruptions. Bishop Mwai, addressing his congregation, claimed that the protests were not spontaneous but had been orchestrated by individuals he knew personally. Without naming names, he suggested that his opponents were using young people to create chaos, referring to some demonstrators as “thugs wearing Jesus Winner badges.”
Despite the tensions, Mwai urged his followers to remain peaceful, insisting that he bore no ill will toward his critics. “May God forgive our children who are being used in such a manner,” he stated.
Further fueling the controversy, President Ruto announced that the church had also been granted a plot of land in Roysambu, previously under the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). The allocation of this land, along with the financial pledge, led many to speculate whether the move was a strategic effort to consolidate political influence within religious institutions.
Later in the week, the President hosted Bishop Mwai at State House, where he praised the church for spearheading recruitment drives aimed at securing jobs for Kenyan youth abroad. This meeting only deepened suspicions, with critics arguing that religious spaces were being leveraged for political gain.
The backlash against the bishop has been intense. Mwai revealed that he had received over 5,000 abusive messages and calls since the controversy erupted, forcing him to change his phone numbers. Despite the hostility, he maintained that he had yet to receive any funds from the President and reiterated his commitment to the church’s mission.
“I leave it to God; may he forgive those who insulted me,” Mwai said during Sunday’s service, signaling his intent to rise above the criticism.
The Jesus Winner Ministry saga highlights the growing concerns about the intersection of religion and politics in Kenya. While churches have long played a role in shaping societal values, their increasing involvement in political affairs has led to scrutiny over their financial dealings and ethical obligations.
With economic hardships pressing on many citizens, the outrage over the donation underscores the public's frustration with perceived government excesses. As protests persist and questions remain unanswered, one thing is certain—the Jesus Winner Ministry is no longer just a place of worship, but a symbol of a larger national debate.
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