Ruto's pledge of 20 million shillings to the Jesus Winner Ministry Church led to protesters gathering there a week later, demanding the return of what they called “stolen tax money”, only to be teargassed by police.
It can become political theatre: last year, MP Oscar Sudi, a Ruto ally, drew cheers from the congregation when he delivered a sack containing three million shillings (around $20,000) to a church in Uasin Gishu county.
In the aftermath, Ruto banned government officials from participating in fundraising drives for churches.
“It is occasioning and it is breeding, if I may say, corruption,“ Ruto added.
While police were teargassing youth outside the Jesus Winner Ministry Church, Ruto was at another church in the town of Eldoret, offering another 20 million shillings (around $150,000) and vowing to raise a further 100 million for Jesus Winner.
The government says the money comes from Ruto's personal funds but many are sceptical.
The movement gained momentum last year after the church stayed silent during protests.
The Catholic Church of Kenya rejected a donation from Ruto after Mwagodi shared preachers' contact details online and organised a barrage of complaints.
Money laundering
Catherine Njoroge, a worshipper at Jesus Winner told AFP: “He is filthy rich and can afford it.”
Critics accuse the government of illegally diverting public funds to churches to win voters and fear the donations could be used for money laundering.
“It has been encouraging corruption,“ he told AFP.
His office insists the ban on fundraisers by politicians is still in effect, even though several Ruto allies have since publicly participated in them.
Selling voters
Some Christian politicians will even start praying in mosques on the campaign trail.
Njoya campaigned for political and social justice during the authoritarian rule of Kenya's second president, Daniel arap Moi (1978-2002), and bears the scars from beatings he received at protests.
Now retired, Njoya did not stand for such behaviour in his time.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya recently barred politicians from addressing congregations or announcing monetary contributions from the pulpit.
But a defiant Ruto has insisted he will continue to “build churches“.
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