President William Ruto on Thursday, March 6 afternoon met with Reverend Edward Mwai of Jesus Winner Ministry Church at State House, Nairobi.

The meeting comes high on the heels of a public uproar after President Ruto attended a service at the church in Roysambu, Nairobi, and pledged to donate KSh20 million, and another KSh100 million in due course.

Kenyans on social media have criticised President Ruto over what they term as misplaced priorities, mobilising on X, under #OccupyJesusWinner, to storm the church this coming Sunday.

During the meeting at State House Ruto and the pastor talked about a range of issues, including the Kenya Kwanza Government’s Labour Mobility Programme.

“We appreciate Jesus Winner Ministry Church for complementing our Labour Mobility Programme by hosting a recruitment drive, which aims to secure jobs for our youth abroad,” President Ruto said after the meeting. “The government will continue supporting this initiative as we work to expand job and income opportunities for our young people.”

President Ruto added: “He also shared with me the progress of the church’s construction in Roysambu.”

The meeting also comes on a day when Pastor Mwai revealed that he had received abusive phone calls and more than 5,000 messages from Kenyans, since President Ruto pledged the KSh120 million donation to his church.

The overwhelming and hateful messages, Pastor Mwai says, have forced him and his wife to buy new SIM cards.

Contrary to Kenyans’ belief, Pastor Mwai says that President never left behind the KSh20 million that he promised the church.

“For the record, President Ruto never left any money behind. I consider what he promised like any other pledge when you are left chasing after it to be fulfilled,” he told Daily Nation.

The pastor added: “The service was live and I challenge you to review the footage and show me where my team or board member is receiving the donation.”