Lavington Church Cancels Rachel Ruto’s Fundraiser After ‘greetings From Kenyans’

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The ongoing trend of Kenyans pressuring churches to avoid hosting politicians and high-profile figures has claimed another casualty. Lavington United Church canceled a fundraiser that was to be attended by First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto.

Following a familiar trend, the invitation letter to the event, scheduled for June 30, surfaced online.

The card, signed by Reverend Simon Mutahi, stated that the funds raised would be used to complete the church’s sanctuary.

“The pastoral team and church leadership cordially invite you to a fundraising event to complete our sanctuary on June 30, 2024, from 10 a.m. at Lavington United Church. The Chief Guest will be Her Excellency Mrs. Rachel Ruto, the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya. Your presence and generous contribution will be highly appreciated,” reads the invite.

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In the wake of protests that resulted in several Kenyans being shot dead and others sustaining injuries, netizens expressed their anger at the church for providing a platform for the First Lady. This reaction mirrors their response to politicians and public figures perceived as insensitive to their struggles.

With the popular phrase “Salimieni huyu” (loosely translated to “greet this person”), the online campaign to have the church cancel the event began in earnest. This phrase has become a rallying cry for online protests against those perceived as harming Kenyans by supporting unpopular policies or failing to support the #RejectFinanceBill protests.

Within minutes, Reverend Mutahi’s contact details were shared online, and netizens flooded him with calls and messages, urging him to cancel the invitation to the First Lady.

Messages to Event Reverend Mutahi and Cancellation of the Fundraiser

Without disclosing their mission, some individuals expressed interest in attending the event, further pressuring the church.

Mwabili Mwagodi, a prominent advocate for keeping politicians out of pulpits, shared a message he reportedly sent to Reverend Simon Mutahi:

“Good evening Reverend Mutahi. My name is Mwabili Mwagodi. I am the person who started the campaign to get rid of politicians from the church pulpit in Kenya. I see here you have invited Mrs. Rachel Ruto to your church for a fundraiser… This message is to notify you that we are coming for the fundraiser. God bless you.”

The mounting pressure led the church to cancel the event, confirmed by an update seen by the press:

“The leadership and pastoral team of Lavington United Church wishes to inform members that the fundraiser event scheduled for June 30, 2024, has been cancelled,” read the update.

Politicians perceived to be supporting unpopular government policies and those who voted in favor of the rejected Finance Bill have been facing significant backlash from the public, who are expressing their anger and frustration.