Donation of the Church of the president of Kenia Ruto Espar

Police in Kenya have fired tear gas to disperse protesters who tried to occupy a church that recently received a substantial donation from President William Ruto.

The gift for the winning ministry of Jesus in the suburb of Rysambu de Nairobi of 20 million chelines ($ 155,000; £ 120,000) caused criticism of some young Kenyans who fought with the high cost of living.

Ruto has defended his donation and offered a gift similar to another church in Eldoret.

Last year, Catholic leaders such as Kenya Anglicans rejected donations, arguing that it was necessary to protect the Church from being used for political purposes.

Several people have been arrested during clashes, which saw protesters try to enter the church and turn on fires and use rocks to block nearby roads.

But the church service continued with a tense security for the faithful, local media report.

Bishop Edward Mwai said that unidentified people had mobilized “thugs” to interrupt the church service, reports the Star website.

Ruto, an evangelical Christian, defended the donation, saying that it was an attempt to address the moral decline of the country.

“Kenya must know God so that we are ashamed of the people who tell us that we cannot associate with the Church,” the nation’s site cited it as in another church, in Eldoret.

The Kenyans have been angry at a series of tax increases introduced since Ruto was chosen in 2022.

He says they were necessary to pay the enormous debts inherited from the previous government, but many Kenians argue that public waste and corruption should first address.

Last year, a wave of protests nationwide forced Ruto to withdraw its Finance Law, which contained a series of tax increases.