Why AIPCA cannot reject President's donations like the other churches

President William Ruto, AIPCA Nyandarua North Diocese Bishop David Kibui (centre) and Leshau West Parish Reverend Joseph Maina during a church service at Ndogino, Ndaragwa, Nyandarua County on July 14, 2024. [PCS, Standard]

President William Ruto found himself in faith-related trouble after several religious groups castigated him for below expectation performance and purported ethical failures.

Given that he came into office in 2022 as the 'anointed one' parading evangelical credentials, allegations of ethical shortcomings stung deep. Still, there were denominations that refused to judge Dr Ruto. The most pronounced of these was the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA, or simply Indi), whose political interests appear to converge with Ruto’s.

The history of Indi, partly captured in CT Muchiri’s new book, AIPCA@100 years, launched by former Cabinet Secretary and Ruto advisor Moses Kuria at the incomplete Murang’a AIPCA Cathedral, is different from that of other churches, like the book by Father Lawrence Njoroge, 'A century of Catholic endeavour' or ACK Pastor John Karanja, 'Founding an African faith: Kikuyu Anglican christianity 1900-1945'.