“All gifts given to us are taken as gifts to God, not to us,” chairman of Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) Bishop Alfred Rotich said after a brand new car donated to Kisumu Catholic Archbishop Philip Anyolo by Deputy President William Ruto continues to elicit mixed reactions across the country.
The gift has sparked off a fresh war of words between Ruto and former Prime Minister boss Raila Odinga which has seen the head of Catholic Church Cardinal John Njue intervene. This follows claims by the ODM boss that the Mitsubishi Pajero was rejected after Pope Francis directed the church not to accept a gift acquired using “dirty money”.
On his part, the DP has vehemently denied the allegations saying he donated the car, together with President Uhuru Kenyatta, after Catholic MPs requested him. Consequently, he has branded Raila as the ‘master of deceit who worships evil spirits’. Cardinal Njue has also distanced the Pope from the claims noting he has never received any communication from the Vatican over Ruto’s gift.
On Thursday, the chairman of Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) Bishop Alfred Rotich waded into the matter saying Ruto shouldn’t be attacked over his kind gesture.