President William Ruto has expressed his appreciation for the Jesus Winner Ministry Church for their significant role in complementing the government’s Labour Mobility Programme after hosting Pastor Edward Mwai at State House, Nairobi amid online criticism.
In a statement via his official X account on Thursday, March 6, 2025, Ruto lauded the church for its efforts in supporting the Kenya Kwanza vision of enhancing youth employment.
He emphasized that the government is committed to continuing to support such initiatives, recognizing the importance of expanding job prospects for young people both locally and internationally.
“We appreciate Jesus Winner Ministry Church for complementing our Labour Mobility Programme by hosting a recruitment drive, which aims to secure jobs for our youth abroad.
“The government will continue supporting this initiative as we work to expand job and income opportunities for our young people,” Ruto said.
In addition to discussing the church’s involvement in the recruitment drive, the President and Pastor Mwai also delved into the progress of the church’s construction project in Roysambu, a project that has caused public uproar.
“Met the Reverend Edward Mwai of Jesus Winner Ministry Church at State House, Nairobi. He also shared with me the progress of the church’s construction in Roysambu,” Ruto disclosed.
Job drive
The church hosted a recruitment drive aimed at securing jobs for Kenyan youth abroad on March 5, 2025.
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua who presided over the event, urged more Kenyans to apply for the jobs arguing that there is a lot of demand for Kenyan labour.
“Kenyan labour is blessed, and we are very lucky, our young people are dynamic, very smart, hardworking, they are well educated, they are well spoken, well groomed and generally Kenyans are very good looking so we provide the best labour in the world and the world wants Kenyan labour. It is up to us to make arrangements and if we plan ourselves well, we will send more people abroad to get money and send it back to your parents and to improve your lives,” he stated.
Online criticism
Pastor Mwai has been on the receiving end following Ruto’s huge donation to the church on Sunday, March 2, 2025, with four concerned activists demanding the clergy return Ksh20 million.
Kennedy Kariithi Gachenge, Lempaa Soyinka, Fanya Mambo, and Peter Kuira claim the money is suspicious and could be the proceeds of a crime.
The four concerned citizens, in a letter drafted by Ndegwa and Ndegwa Associates, argue that the President failed to disclose the source of the funds and that the donation violates transparency and accountability standards.
They warn that receiving the funds could make the church complicit in corruption. According to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA), handling suspicious money can lead to severe legal consequences, including a fine of up to Ksh1 million or a prison term of up to ten years.
“This therefore means, that by dint of your actions of receiving the said suspected amount, you are aiding and abetting the commission of a crime of corruption,” the letter read in part.
The activists have urged Mwai to surrender the funds to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). They caution that if the church fails to comply, they will initiate private prosecution and civil proceedings to recover the money.
“Further to the above, our clients have duly instructed us to advise you that in light of Section 2 (a) and(b) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Act, ACECA, you are now deemed to have unexplained assets, at the value of Kshs. 20,000,000.00 /= as issued to you by the President of Kenya, and which monies are disproportionate to his known sources of income,” Ndegwa added.
