ACK bishop asks bereaved family to reject Ruto's Sh500,000 donation, terming it evil

Taita Taveta ACK Bishop Liverson Mng’onda presides over a past function. [File]

Taita Taveta ACK Bishop Liverson Mng’onda on Friday urged a bereaved family in Mbololo location to reject President William Ruto and Taveta MP John Bwire's donations of Sh600,000.

Mng’onda said he had spoken to  God, who had shown him a vision and revelation that the donation was evil and the family should reject and return it.

He said the family should return the money over "ethical concerns” and the need to safeguard Kenyans from being used for political purposes.

“You should not use the money to educate your children. The donation from the State House is morally wrong and evil,” he cautioned.

During the funeral service of the late Reverend Silvanus Mwakoma of ACK, President Ruto sent Bwire to deliver Sh 500,000 to the widow Jackline Irine. Bwire also gave Sh100,000 during the funeral at Kirutai village on the outskirts of Voi town.

The legislator gave a short speech and left the service in progress.

Rev Mwakoma died on August 1, after a road accident near Maungu township along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

A rider who was ferrying him to Maungu is still recuperating at the Moi County Referral Hospital in Voi town

Other mourners included President Ruto allies Governor Andrew Mwadime, Labour and Skill Development Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime, former governor Granton Samboja and former Taita Taveta woman representative Joyce Lay.

Responding to the accusations on social media later, Bwire said: "What I see are emotions. The most important thing is that the children have enough to finish school.”

And the family spokesman, Danson Mwakoma, welcomed the President's donation, saying it will go a long way in assisting the children to further their education.

“I thank the President for the donation, and as a family, we are grateful to him and everybody who has made the funeral service a success,” said Danson.

But many mourners supported the Bishop, who urged Christians to follow the divine instructions for their success.

“The financial support by the President and the MP should not have been done in public. Instead, it should have been done quietly without the knowledge of the people. The President and the MP have displayed arrogance and disrespect,” he said.

Amid applause, the bishop wondered why the President and politicians allied to him were dishing out money when the economy was not doing well and Kenyans were suffering for lack of food, water, fees, drugs in hospitals and roads.

“The nation is suffering because leaders have failed to sacrifice resources. Why bring Chinese investors to rehabilitate roads in the country and yet we have qualified road engineers who can do them?"

“The county is rich, but we are joking about it. Why wait for money from the State House to educate our children? We can do it ourselves.”

He said the church would not watch as Kenyans were being belittled and disrespected by the government to win support in the 2027 general election.

“I was hurt to see the MP displaying the money in public and handing it over to the widow. Politicians should give assistance to people when alive and not when they die as it has been done here today. The legislator has displayed arrogance and disrespect to the bereaved family and the local community,” he said.

At the same time, Mng'onda accused elected leaders in the region of failing to address pertinent issues affecting the local community.