Police in Kenya have used tear gas to clear protesters attempting to occupy a church recently awarded a substantial donation by President William Ruto. The donation of 20m shillings ($155,000; £120,000) to the Jesus Winner Ministry in the Roysambu suburb of Nairobi drew criticism, especially from young Kenyans struggling with the high cost of living. Ruto defended the donation, asserting it as a move to address moral decay, and made a similar donation to another church in Eldoret. Both Kenya’s Catholic and Anglican leadership had previously refused donations, arguing it’s crucial to shield the church from political involvement. However, during these recent clashes, multiple people were apprehended as protesters attempted to enter the church, set fires, and block nearby roads with rocks. Despite the turmoil, the church service proceeded under strict security measures, as reported by local media. Bishop Edward Mwai claimed there were efforts to disrupt the service with “thugs” mobilized by unidentified individuals. Ruto, emphasizing the importance of the church’s role in society, called for recognition of its necessity in Kenya. The donation especially irked Kenyans, who have been aggravated by the series of tax hikes implemented under Ruto’s administration since 2022. Despite Ruto’s argument that the tax increases are aimed at paying off legacy debts, many believe the focus should be on tackling public waste and corruption. The resistance to these tax measures was strong enough to compel Ruto to retract his Finance Bill, which contained several tax increments, following widespread protests last year.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8x414kyl1no