President William Ruto has pledged to support the renovation and modernisation of the Africa Inland Church (AIC) Kibera in Nairobi, promising to partner with well-wishers to restore the church to its former glory.
Speaking after a church service at AIC Kibera on Sunday, May 25, 2025, the president acknowledged the damage caused to the building during the post-election violence and commended the congregation for their efforts to maintain it over the years.
Ruto, who is affiliated with the AIC, further assured the congregation that he would collaborate with all willing partners to ensure the church is fully restored.
“Nimepata kuambiwa ya kwamba pale nyuma iliharibika kwa sababu ya mambo ya post-elections violence, na tangu wakati huo haijajengwa vizuri; mumekuwa mkikarabati, lakini kwa sababu nimefika hapa leo, mimi ni mwana AIC, na kwa Baraka ya Mungu, mimi ndio kiongozi wa taifa hii; basi hii kanisa sasa tutaifanya iwe mpya, na tutashirikiana pamoja,”Ruto promised.
“I will join the team that will help in the rebuilding of this church so that it can become a place of refuge and a place of hope for the people of Kibera.”
He also emphasised the importance of collaboration in the renovation effort.
“Mimi nataka niwahakikishie ya kwamba hiyo kazi ya ujenzi wa kanisa la Mungu tutafanya kwa ushirikiano pamoja na wote ambao wako tayari tufanye kazi pamoja,” he added.
Ruto on church construction
Ruto’s promise comes after he pledged support for the construction of churches across Kenya, reaffirming his commitment to advancing God’s work despite growing criticism.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service at AIC Annexe in Kesses, Uasin Gishu, on Sunday, March 9, 2025, he addressed the broader controversy surrounding donations and church construction in Kenya, particularly the criticism from those who question politicians’ contributions to church projects.
“Najua kuna controversy kubwa sana hii Kenya, shetani amekuwa na kiburi; there has been a big controversy in this nation about giving to our churches and about building sanctuaries in the republic of Kenya, that controversy is about giving, about building our churches and about the place of God in Kenya,” he stated.
Despite the opposition, Ruto made it clear that Kenya would remain steadfast in its commitment to supporting God’s work, promising that those who oppose religious initiatives in Kenya would ultimately fail.
“The pushback from the people who do not believe in God, who do not believe in building churches, who do not believe that we should be supporting the work of God in Kenya, I want to say as the leader of this nation by God’s grace, in this nation, God will be known and God will be strong, and we will do great exploits in this nation,” he added.
“I want to say as a leader of Kenya in this rock of a nation called Kenya, we are going to build God’s church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against Kenya and those who are against the word of God in Kenya, those who are against the building of sanctuaries in Kenya, supporting the word of God in Kenya, they will fail because they will not overcome us.”
