President William Ruto at State House Nairobi with JWM church leaders led by Reverend Edward Mwai on March 6, 2025.PHOTO/X/William Ruto.President William Ruto hosted Bishop Edward Mwai of Jesus Winner Ministry Church on Thursday, days after donating Sh 20 million to the worship centre.
The President had on Sunday also pledged to mobilise his friends to raise another Sh100 million for the construction of the church, estimated at Sh1 billion.
In a post on X, President Ruto stated that he met with the bishop to discuss the progress of the ongoing construction of the church in Nairobi’s Roysambu area.
"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 wrote.
The meeting at State House was also attended by senior
clerics of Jesus Winner Ministry, just hours after the church’s management
board addressed the media regarding the President’s Sh 20 million donation on
March 2.
President Ruto expressed his gratitude to Bishop Mwai for allowing the church to host thousands of job-seeking youths who participated in the government’s Kazi Majuu recruitment drive on Tuesday.
"We appreciate Jesus Winner Ministry Church for complementing our Labour Mobility Programme by hosting a recruitment drive aimed at securing jobs for our youth abroad," the President wrote on X.
"The government will continue supporting this initiative as we work to expand job and income opportunities for our young people."
The church found itself defending the President’s donation on Thursday after a group of concerned citizens formally demanded that the funds be surrendered.
In response, the Board of Management of Jesus Winner Ministry defended President Ruto, emphasizing that he has been a long-time worshipper at the church.
Regarding the donation, the board clarified that it was made following a request from the church’s overseer, Reverend Mwai.
"On the issue of His Excellency the President of Kenya, Hon. William Ruto's donation to the church, we wish to clarify to the whole nation that he has been our faithful worshipper since 2009," said Secretary-General Raphael Mwiti in a statement on behalf of the board.
"Hon. President Ruto pledged his support of Sh20 million upon request from our church's general overseer, Rev. Edward Mwai."
The board further explained that the funds were intended to support the church’s expansion, which is part of a 10-year strategic plan aimed at accommodating a growing congregation.
"By God's grace, the church can no longer accommodate all its members. Our strategic plan is to build a larger sanctuary on the land we purchased from Uchumi Supermarkets," the statement read.
