Four activists have written a letter to Bishop Edward Mwai of Jesus Winner Ministry in Roysambu, Nairobi, demanding the immediate surrender of Ksh 20 million donated by President William Ruto during a church service on Sunday.
The letter, dated March 4, 2025, alleges that the funds were donated to the church by President William Ruto, and urges the bishop to hand them over to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for further investigation.
Njiru’s clients namely Kennedy Kariithi Gachenge, Lempaa Soyinka, Fanya Mambo, and Peter Kuira describe themselves as law-abiding citizens and staunch defenders of the Constitution.
The letter accuses Bishop Mwai of receiving a donation from President Ruto during a visit to the church on March 2, 2025, which was allegedly intended to serve as a platform for laundering illicit funds.
“Our clients, as firm believers in the rule of law, have been compelled by Article 3 of the Constitution to take action and protect it from violation, regardless of the status of those involved,” the letter states.
The lawyer claims that the Ksh 20 million donated by President Ruto is either proceeds of crime or unexplained assets, arguing that it was given by an individual who, according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), was ranked as the second most corrupt person in the world as of December 30, 2024.
The letter emphasizes that the donation raises serious concerns, especially considering the timing and the background of the president.
“Mr. William Ruto, who ranks among the most corrupt individuals globally, made this donation without providing any satisfactory explanation about the source of the funds,” the letter argues.
“This is highly concerning, given the president’s public salary, which is capped at Ksh 1,443,750 per month. It is unreasonable to assume that such a substantial sum could have been accumulated through his known sources of income.”
Njiru’s letter also refers to recent findings by the Auditor General, which exposed massive corruption in public institutions, such as the State House and the State Department for Housing and Infrastructure (SHA and SHIF).
The lawyer asserts that the president’s involvement in donating such an amount amid these revelations further suggests the funds could be tainted by corruption.
“By receiving the Ksh 20 million from President Ruto, Bishop Mwai is facilitating the commission of a crime, particularly aiding and abetting corruption,” the letter alleges.
The letter cites relevant sections of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA), specifically Section 2 (a) and (b), which defines possession of unexplained assets as an offense.
According to Njiru, Bishop Mwai’s receipt of the funds, given the president’s salary limitations, qualifies as possession of illicit wealth, which the law mandates to be reported and returned.
“By accepting the money, you are now deemed to be in possession of unexplained assets valued at Ksh 20 million. These funds are disproportionate to the known sources of income of President William Ruto,” the letter asserts.
Additionally, Njiru cites Section 47 of the ACECA, which criminalizes dealing with property believed to have been acquired through corrupt conduct.
The penalties for such offenses include imprisonment for up to ten years, a fine of up to one million shillings, or both.
The lawyer also warns that Bishop Mwai’s actions could lead to severe legal consequences, urging the bishop to reflect on the moral and legal implications of keeping the funds.
Drawing from the wisdom of the Bible, Njiru advises the bishop to follow the example of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, who advocated for appointing leaders of integrity, as found in Exodus 18:20-21.
“Bishop Mwai, as a leader of faith, you must uphold integrity. The law is clear, and failing to comply with this demand could have serious repercussions,” the letter advises.
“We strongly recommend you surrender the Ksh 20 million to the EACC, as this is the only lawful and morally sound course of action.”
Njiru concludes the letter by warning Bishop Mwai that if the EACC and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) fail to act, his clients are prepared to take legal action to recover the funds.
“Our clients have instructed us to initiate private prosecution to recover the Ksh 20 million, should the relevant authorities fail to take appropriate action,” the letter concludes.
“Additionally, we will pursue civil proceedings to preserve the integrity of this matter.”
