President William Ruto has declared the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) as the official church of the government.
Speaking during the Holy Oil celebration at AIPCA in Meru County on Thursday, April 17, 2025, Ruto praised the church for its role during the colonial period. He said AIPCA stood with Kenyans and played a key role in shaping the path to independence.
According to the president, it is only fitting that the church becomes part of the government’s identity.
In addition to its immense contribution to the country’s fight for independence, Ruto added that he has enjoyed a long-standing friendship and partnership with the church.
“Nimepata urafiki na ushirika na kanisa la AIPCA kwa muda mrefu, na niko na sababu mbili ya kuungana pamoja na nyinyi. Ya kwanza ni urafiki, ambayo nimepata neema ya kupata marafiki wengi katika kanisa hili, na urafiki huo umetusaidia, na tuko na faida kubwa ya urafiki huo,” Ruto remarked.
“Na ya pili ni kwa sababu kanisa la AIPCA ni kanisa peke ya serikali; hakuna kanisa nyingine ambayo ilipigania uhuru kuzidi hii ya AIPCA, so this is the independence church. Na kwa sababu ya mchango wenu kwa kupatikana kwa uhuru wa taifa letu la Kenya, muliamua kama kanisa ya kwamba hii kanisa itakuwa kanisa ya serikali.“
He went on to state that since he is the leader of the government and AIPCA is the government’s church, it only made sense for him to be there, as that was where he should be.
“So kwa sababu mimi ndio kiongozi wa serikali na hii ndio kanisa ya serikali, si ndio niko hapa vizuri? Hapa ndio mimi na paswa kukuwa,” he added.
The head of state also pledged to assist the church in establishing a modern national headquarters in Nairobi County.
“Tutatafuta mahali mzuri ya kujenga headquarters ya kanisa huko Nairobi; sasa kanisa ya independence na kanisa ambayo ni ya serikali itakosaje headquarters?” Ruto stated.
Ruto on church construction
On Sunday, March 9, 2025, Ruto pledged support for the construction of churches across Kenya, reaffirming his commitment to advancing God’s work despite growing criticism.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service at AIC Annex in Kesses, Uasin Gishu, he addressed the broader controversy surrounding donations and church construction in Kenya, particularly the criticism from those who question politicians’ contributions to church projects.
“Najua kuna controversy kubwa sana hii Kenya, shetani amekuwa na kiburi; there has been a big controversy in this nation about giving to our churches and about building sanctuaries in the republic of Kenya that controversy about giving, about building our churches and about the place of God in Kenya,” he stated.
Despite the opposition, Ruto made it clear that Kenya would remain steadfast in its commitment to supporting God’s work, promising that those who oppose religious initiatives in Kenya would ultimately fail.
“The pushback from the people who do not believe in God, who do not believe in building churches, who do not believe that we should be supporting the work of God in Kenya, I want to say as the leader of this nation by God’s grace, in this nation, God will be known and God be strong and we will do great exploits in this nation and I want to say as a leader of Kenya in this rock of the nation called Kenya we are going to build God’s church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against Kenya and those who are against the word of God in Kenya, those who are against the building of sanctuaries in Kenya, supporting the word of God in Kenya they will fail because they will not overcome us,” he added.