Ruto leaves crowd in stitches after saying he thought Raila was a member of Legio Maria
President William Ruto has amused worshippers in Siaya after joking that he had always thought former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was a member of the Legio Maria sect.
Speaking on Sunday, August 31, 2025, during a church service at St. Peter’s ACK Cathedral in Siaya County, Ruto asked the presiding bishop which denomination Raila belonged to.
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When told that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader was Anglican, he joked that he had always thought Raila was a member of Legio Maria, leaving the congregation in stitches.
Ruto went on to pledge Ksh 5million on Raila’s behalf, saying the money would help complete the construction of the ACK St Peter’s Cathedral in Siaya.
“Bishop unajua baba ni wa kanisa gani? ooh Anglican,nilikuwa nafikiri ni wa Legio Maria, umesema ni wa Anglican? mimi nitaenda kumwambia nime pledge Ksh 5 million kwa niaba yake alete yakumaliza hii kanisa,”Ruto joked sending the crowd into laughter.
Church pledges
Ruto also pledged Ksh20 million towards the completion of the same church, a project that has stalled for the past two decades.
His announcement followed a request from the local bishop, who highlighted the prolonged delay in completing the cathedral construction.
The president went ahead to express concern about how the cathedral had taken too many years to be completed, yet members of the same church, according to Ruto, have managed to develop their own homes to completion, but the house of God was lagging behind.
“So Bishop Hio Cathedral ya hapa Siaya, mnajua imejengwa miaka ishirini; just imagine, kila mtu hapa amejenga nyumba yake, amemaliza, lakini kanisa ya mungu hapa imekwama, na tuko hapa, tunaongea kingereza mingi, tunaongeza na kijaluo,” he stated.
“kwa sababu bishop amenionyesha inahitaji pesa mingi, nyinyi mtafanya sehemu yenu; mimi nitafanya sehemu yangu; nitawatafutia shilingi million ishirini ya kujenga hiyo kanisa, na baba alinituma, na naskia yeye ni mtu wa ACK. mimi nimepledge kwa niaba yake shilingi million 5, alete ya kumaliza hii kanisa.”
The Head of State further assured the congregation that he would mobilise resources to support the church project.
In addition, he called on Siaya leaders present during the services, including Governor James Orengo and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, to rally behind the project and provide additional support to ensure the long-awaited cathedral is finally completed.
“Alafu kina James Orengo, Opiyo Wandayi, mkuje mmalize hio ingine,” he added.
