In Kenya, law enforcement officials deployed tear gas to break up a group of demonstrators attempting to take over a church that recently received a significant donation from President William Ruto.
The donation of 20 million shillings ($155,000; £120,000) to the Jesus Winner Ministry in the Roysambu suburb of Nairobi has sparked backlash among young Kenyans grappling with the rising cost of living.
Ruto has stood by his recent donation and has extended a similar offer to another church located in Eldoret.
In a significant move last year, leaders from both the Catholic and Anglican churches in Kenya turned down donations, citing concerns over the potential politicisation of the church.
Multiple arrests have been made amid the clashes, as protesters attempted to breach the church, ignite fires, and obstruct nearby roads with rocks.
Despite concerns, the church service proceeded as planned, with heightened security measures for attendees, according to local media reports.
Bishop Edward Mwai has alleged that unidentified individuals orchestrated the mobilisation of “thugs” with the intent to disrupt the church service, according to reports from the Star website.
As an evangelical Christian, Ruto stood by the donation, asserting that it was a measure aimed at tackling the nation’s moral decline.
“Kenya must know God so that we can challenge those who claim we cannot engage with the church,” he stated at a different church in Eldoret, according to the Nation site.
Since the election of President Ruto in 2022, a wave of tax increases has sparked significant outrage among the Kenyan populace.
The individual claims that the funds were essential for settling the substantial debts inherited from the prior administration. However, many Kenyans contend that addressing public waste and corruption should take precedence.
In the previous year, protests across the country compelled Ruto to retract his Finance Bill, which proposed a range of tax increases.
