Ruto sparks laughter with cheeky 10-year remark as new ACK bishop takes office
President William Ruto joked that serving for 10 uninterrupted years is no easy feat as he congratulated the newly installed Bishop of ACK Katakwa Diocese.
President William Ruto sparked laughter at a church gathering in Busia after making a pointed remark about the difficulty of securing 10 uninterrupted years in leadership.
The President was speaking on Sunday, July 26, during the consecration and enthronement of Rt Rev Dr Vitalis Job Ekuru as the fourth Bishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Katakwa Diocese in Amagoro, Busia County.
Ruto congratulated Bishop Ekuru and welcomed him into what he described as Kenya’s wider leadership, before turning to the bishop’s planned tenure.
“I also want to congratulate our new bishop, Bishop Vitalis. Congratulations, my friend, and welcome to Kenya’s leadership, starting here in Katakwa,” Ruto said.
He also congratulated Christians in Katakwa and residents across the wider region who would come under the bishop’s spiritual leadership.
“I also congratulate Christians of this diocese and the people of Busia, Bungoma and Kitale, where our bishop will serve. Congratulations on getting a new bishop,” he added.
The President then referred to the bishop’s expected retirement in 2037 after completing a 10-year tenure.
“I have heard that he will retire in 2037 after 10 years. You are very lucky, Bishop,” Ruto said.
His remark triggered laughter from the congregation.
Ruto then delivered the punchline.
“Getting 10 years without a break is not easy. Some of us are trying very hard,” he said, prompting another round of laughter.
The comment carried an unmistakable political undertone, coming just over a year before the 2027 General Election, when Ruto is expected to seek a second and final presidential term.
Ruto promises partnership with new bishop
After the light-hearted exchange, the President struck a more serious tone, assuring Bishop Ekuru of his support as he begins his episcopal ministry.
“I want to assure you that, as one of the leaders of the Republic of Kenya, you are welcome. Let us work together, and I want to commit to you my friendship and partnership as we serve the great people of this diocese,” Ruto said.
Bishop Ekuru’s installation marks a new chapter for Katakwa Diocese, whose headquarters are in Amagoro. The diocese was established in January 1991 after being separated from the Diocese of Nambale.
Ekuru succeeds the former bishop, Rt Rev John Okude Omuse, and was elected by the ACK Provincial Electoral College following a closely contested process. Reports indicate that he secured victory in the second round of voting after more than two hours of deliberations.
The ceremony brought together hundreds of worshippers, church leaders and political figures, including ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit and other senior dignitaries.
Western Kenya emerges as key 2027 battleground
Ruto’s appearance in Busia came against a backdrop of intensifying political activity in Western Kenya, a region expected to play a major role in the 2027 presidential contest.
The President’s visit coincided with a political tour by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi movement in neighbouring Trans Nzoia and Bungoma.
The parallel events have highlighted the growing battle for influence in Western Kenya, which remains an important voting bloc ahead of the next General Election.
Ruto has repeatedly positioned his administration’s record on infrastructure, healthcare, housing, digital jobs and other development programmes as part of his case for re-election.
At the same time, opposition figures have been stepping up grassroots mobilisation as political alliances begin to take shape ahead of 2027.
The President also used Sunday’s church gathering to stress the importance of peace, warning against violence and assuring Kenyans that the next election would be peaceful.
“Peace is not negotiable,” Ruto said, according to reports from the event.
His comments came as political temperatures rise across the country, making the seemingly humorous 10-year remark about Bishop Ekuru’s tenure particularly notable.
For Bishop Ekuru, however, the political jokes were secondary to the significance of the day: he now begins his tenure as the fourth bishop of a diocese whose leadership transition has attracted considerable attention in recent months.
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