President William Ruto has echoed a strong call for national moral renewal, aligning his administration with the church in confronting corruption and deepening values in public life. Speaking on Thursday at State House Nairobi during a meeting with officials from the Anglican Diocese of Nairobi, President Ruto emphasized the need for collective responsibility in tackling the country’s social challenges, Ruto called on religious leaders to join the government in efforts to restore integrity across all sectors of society.
“The transformation of our nation requires a whole-of-society approach. Every sector, including religious institutions, has a vital role to play in addressing the challenges in our country,” President Ruto said.“We must restore trust in institutions and leadership. That begins with aligning ourselves to values rooted in service, honesty, and sacrifice,” Ruto said during the engagement.
President Ruto’s comments came one day after Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairperson Bishop David Oginde made headlines with a fiery prayer at the State House. During the Assent to the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023, and the Social Protection Bill, 2025, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairperson Oginde warned corrupt leaders that divine justice remains real and imminent.
“You are the same God who delivered judgment to Ananias and Sapphira, who conspired to circumvent what You had established,” EACC chairperson Oginde said in prayer. The statement drew widespread attention for its rare tone and biblical intensity, comparing corrupt officials to the New Testament couple struck down for dishonesty and theft.
The President addressed those remarks indirectly, saying, “We are working closely with religious leaders to strengthen our moral and social fabric.” President Ruto tied the church’s role to broader development goals, including universal healthcare and equitable education access.
The Anglican delegation, led by Bishop Jonathan Kabiru, met Ruto amid ongoing concerns over the ethical direction of the country’s leadership. While the government has passed several anti-corruption laws, enforcement remains a major challenge, and recent opinion polls show widespread skepticism about accountability at the highest levels.
EACC Chairperson Oginde’s intervention reignited debate about the moral state of public office and the gap between new laws and day-to-day enforcement. Though not naming names, his remarks were widely interpreted as a rebuke of leaders who continue to misuse public resources despite repeated government promises.
The President’s meeting with the clergy served as both a public relations gesture and a signal of intent positioning faith leaders as critical allies in shaping values and demanding accountability from government officers.
While no specific policy announcements were made, the administration is expected to increase collaboration with faith-based groups, especially on social service delivery, civic education, and community outreach.
Ruto’s alignment with Oginde’s message delivered in a moment of prayer but filled with political implications suggests a shift toward publicly embracing moral language to drive reforms in governance. Whether this signals meaningful change or political positioning ahead of 2027 remains to be seen.
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