President William Ruto’s administration is facing a rare kind of criticism–overdoing religion.
In a tweet that has since gone viral, popular visually-challenged gospel musician Paul Kigame cautioned the new administration to strike a balance between governance and spirituality.
“I know I will be bashed, but I need to be truthful and accountable to the nation. I think the Ruto administration is overdoing religion. While we acknowledge the hand of God in bringing us this far, [the] presidency must observe Article 27 of the Constitution.
I know I will be bashed but I need to be truthful and accountable to the nation. I think the Ruto administration is overdoing religion. While we acknowledge the hand of God in bringing us this far, presidency must observe Article 27 of the constitution.
— Reuben Kigame HSC (@ReubenKigame) September 15, 2022
It’s unclear why Kigame cited Section 27 of the Kenyan Constitution to support his argument. The section in Chapter Four of the constitution covering the Bill of Rights, does not forbid the government from engaging in religious activity. It covers matters about equality and freedom from discrimination.
A guidance on how the State should handle religion resides in Chapter 2 (8), of the constitution which states the following:
“There shall be no State religion.”
The section makes it clear the government cannot declare a national religion but does not forbid a President from engaging in religious activities.
Chapter 4 (32), under the Bill of Rights provided in the Kenya Constitution, entitled Freedom of conscience, religion, belief and opinion. further addresses the issue of religion stating as follows:
- Every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.
- Every person has the right, either individually or in community with others, in public or in private, to manifest any religion or belief through worship, practice, teaching or observance, including observance of a day of worship.
- A person may not be denied access to any institution, employment or facility, or the enjoyment of any right, because of the person’s belief or religion.
- A person shall not be compelled to act, or engage in any act, that is contrary to the person’s belief or religion.
From the above section, it appears the Rutos are within their rights to exercise their faith as they see fit and some may question Kigame for infringing on their rights.
But It appears Kigame is not out to stop the President and First Lady from practicing their faith, rather he is cautioning them to be aware of their position as leaders and play an inclusive role embracing Kenyans from all religious backgrounds.
Kigame pointed out that Ruto’s inauguration had an evangelical Christian theme.
“During the inauguration, the evangelical wing of the Church was overrepresented. This was unnecessary. I do not know what the transition committee intended to prove to Kenya and the watching world,” Kigame tweeted.
The inauguration ceremony featured gospel music. In a remarkable moment, Bishop Mark Kariuki of Deliverance Church, prayed for the President and his Deputy President with their wives as they knelt on the dais in front of the massive crowd gathered to witness the event at Kasarani International Stadium.
ALSO READ: MAMA RACHEL RUTO: KENYA’S PRAYERFUL, HUMBLE, GRACEFUL, AND ELOQUENT FIRST LADY
After the inauguration, President Ruto and the First Lady, Rachel, hosted several religious guests at the State House. Out of her four maiden tweets as First Lady, only one regarded a meeting with a governmental personality — a meeting with Samira Buwamia, Ghana’s Second Lady.
In one tweet, the Rutos appeared together in a photo with a gospel choir group. On two other occasions, the First Lady posed for a photo shoot at the State House steps with Prophet Victor Kusi Boateng, a famous Ghanian preacher.
“Met prophet Victor Kusi Boateng from Power Chapel Worldwide Ghana, who paid me a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi,” The First Lady said on her official Twitter.
Rachel put out two other tweets showing her posing for pictures at the Statehouse steps, and announcing meetings with evangelical Christian guests.
“It was a pleasure hosting Dr. Ian Ndlovu and his wife Evangelist Angel Ndlovu, who paid me a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi.”
“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.” Psalm 40:3,” Mama Rachel, as she is popularly known, tweeted about Zablon Choir.
FIRST LADY RACHEL RUTO AND PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO POSE FOR PHOTOS WITH CHRISTIAN FAITH GUESTS
It was a pleasure hosting the Zabron Choir earlier today, when they paid a courtesy call at State House.
They are well known for their popular song Mkono wa Bwana and Usiniache. pic.twitter.com/Ws3bwaOc16— Mama Rachel Ruto, EGH (@MamaRachelRuto) September 14, 2022
The critique from Kigame, a respected Christian preacher, Gospel singer, and a presidential aspirant in the just-concluded election, has ignited a significant discussion on Twitter about how the Ruto’s are mixing their Christian faith with governing a nation composed of people with different beliefs.
“I strongly believe that the Church should play A neutral, prophetic, balanced, and truthful role in order to provide a true spiritual direction for the country. It should congratulate the King but also be prepared to tell the King that he is naked should he be,” Kigame said in another tweet.
The First Lady is a prayerful Christian who is not afraid to show her faith publicly. On one occasion, she told an audience that she prayed over a well in her home and turned the undrinkable to drinkable.
“I am a committed Christian who believes in prayer and believe God has helped us this far and will continue to trust Him for the future of Kenya. But I hope that issues such as lowering food prices will not be met with Statehouse saying, “let’s pray about it.” Reuben Kigame, Gospel Musician and 2022 Presidential Aspirant.
As Kigame predicted, his critique has not sat well with many Kenyans, a nation of primarily Christians who identify as God-fearing, but few tweeted support.
“The evangelical wing are biggest beneficiaries of Arap Mashamba (Ruto) loot. They have been hoodwinked into thinking that State House is the shrine for prayers,” Sudi tweeted.
Perhaps understanding Kigame’s concern about the over-representation of the Evangelical wing of the Church over other religions, Lissy commented about the favored position Christianity seemed to enjoy in the Ruto administration.
“In my view, it also looks like there is a quiet assumption that the “God” referred to in the Constitution is only the Christian God,” Lissy tweeted.
“We need to separate Church from State,” Bosibori tweeted in support of Kigame’s comment.
As if in agreement, Silas Alumasa supported Kigame’s views with a cautionary statement about mixing Church and State.
“I have always had [a] reservation on State and religion being together. In my opinion, the results have always been disastrous. The Church suddenly becomes a brutal imperialist and loses its spiritual direction. As a committed Christian, I am scared of this marriage,” Alumasa tweeted.
Kigame, who said he does not hate the President, posted a parting shot, warning the Ruto administration about its religious posture.
“I am a committed Christian who believes in prayer and believe God has helped us this far and will continue to trust Him for the future of Kenya. But I hope that issues such as lowering food prices will not be met with Statehouse saying, “let’s pray about it,” Kigame said in the tweet thread.
As Kigame predicted, the backlash against his comments is coming as a vicious avalanche.
“A wrong way of seeking attention on your part. Have I seen or heard anywhere President Ruto said that we should pray about something, and he avoided doing it? Secondly, when we pray about something, God gives us ideas on what to do, and we get solutions. Stop being petty!” Kihara wa Mwangi admonished Kigame in a tweet.
Other Twitter users, however, defended Kigame, with one telling Wa Mwangi he is misunderstanding Kigame and another, Tom Odhiambo asking, “Shall you be schooled on religious extremism?
“Wait until you will witness the coronation of King Charles- the Anglican Church will not only be “over-represented,” they will be the ONLY Church presiding over the event. No shame, simply tradition, and rightful choice.
@ReubenKigame, you are ashamed of the God you once praised??,” David Mutai tweeted.
Mutai is right. In England, there is no separation of Church and State. King Henry VIII established the Anglican Church in 1534 to be independent of the Roman Catholic Church. The King protested against the Catholic Church after the pope refused to allow him to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. The Anglican Church, headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, is England’s established Church.
Chinta criticized Kigame for his perception.
“Now, that is a Kindergarten take on issues. You wanted to be President. I can bet you would have moved into Statehouse with your whole gospel choir and musical instruments. And the country would have only listened to Huniachi – Usifadhaike. Kweli si kweli?” Chinta tweeted.
Kigame’s opinion may have some impact on his wallet. Jose Orina said he’s evaluating his support for Kigame’s ministry over the tweets.
“I have been a loyal supporter of your ministry, but when you start behaving like a person who doesn’t understand the power of God, I wonder. The Bible says to seek first the kingdom of God and the rest. Please, if possible, let Statehouse be our powerhouse, and God will manifest,” Orina tweeted.
Mutai, who challenged Kigame to wait and witness the Church’s involvement in King Charles’ coronation, was not done. He accused Kigame of distrusting God.
“You truly cannot hide the fact that you distrust God as your unrealistic expectations to win the 2022 elections failed. You have been sadly disillusioned of late. We pray for restoration of your ORIGINAL faith in God. Politics is not for the weak-hearted like you,” Mutai said.
But Bernard, a self-proclaimed Ruto supporter, defended Kigame against Mutai’s salvo.
“No, Kigame is talking facts. I am a RUTO Supporter, but Kigame is right.” Bernard tweeted.
It appears Kigame’s tweets garnered more negative comments that supportive ones, but so far it has received more that 16,000 likes, suggesting more people agree with his views, but have decided not to post a comment.
“Haki, I was strongly supporting this man as my presidential candidate, but I’m just by and by deeply disappointed at some of the comments he’s making. Silence may be a better option, sir. I really believed he is a wise man, sasa nakuwa disappointed kabisa by these kinds of comments,” Terry Constance tweeted.
Kigame’s tweet comes after comedy Eric Omondi produced a viral video depicting the Ruto’s arrival in the Statehouse, with Rachel walking around every room, praying and casting out demons, while speaking in tongues. Some have called the skit blasphemous while others argue that Omondi is just using his comedy to make a point about the Ruto’s religiousness.
Omondi’s skit also appears to insinuate a change of culture at the Statehouse. Ruto’s supporters have alleged former President Uhuru Kenyatta used the Statehouse to host drunken parties. In a fiery campaign rally, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua assailed Kenyatta, telling that crowd he was the one who rescued him from the bar, cleaned him up and made him presidential. Both Ruto and Gachagua don’t drink alcohol.
At this rate, Eric Omondi needs to be stopped! Eric Omondi never dissapoints pic.twitter.com/m5KmPSRqcM
— Omwamba 🇰🇪 (@omwambaKE) September 13, 2022
Kigame said his comments come from a good place, and he does not hate the President.
“Nobody should imagine that I hate President William Ruto. His government or the faith of the 1st and 2nd Ladies. Actually, Kenya will succeed greatly because of their faith. I promised to keep them accountable, and this is part of it. I did the same for previous governments.
Ruto was mocked for injecting religion in his campaign, but they trudged along saying their campaign was based on faith in God. On one occasion, Ruto was caught on camera tears flowing during a prayer session. Some critics have argued that his religiosity is just a pretext to manipulate Kenyans who are deeply religious to side with him.
Both the Rutos and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua’s family are deeply religious. Gachagua’s wife, Dorcas, is a pastor.
The Ruto administration has not commented on Kigame’s tweets.