President William Ruto on Sunday arrived at Jesus Celebration Centre (JCC) Mombasa, expecting to join worshippers for a church service led by Bishop Wilfred Lai—only to find the sanctuary deserted, the service long concluded, and the congregation gone.
The unexpected turn of events came after the president spent his morning at the Port of Mombasa, where he welcomed and toured the Norwegian Dawn, a colossal 294-meter-long luxury cruise ship carrying over 2,200 tourists. The visit was part of his government’s push to position Kenya as a key tourism destination.
“We are investing in quality infrastructure, engaging in strategic marketing, and enriching offers and experiences to sustainably drive our tourism numbers. This will spur foreign investments and stimulate our economic growth,” Ruto stated at the port.
However, by the time he made his way to Bishop Lai’s JCC, the church service had wrapped up, leaving nothing but empty pews and a few lingering church staff. Ruto, who frequently attends church services and has often used them as platforms to reinforce his faith-driven leadership, found himself missing one of Mombasa’s most prominent Sunday gatherings.
The mishap has raised eyebrows, with some questioning whether it was a scheduling blunder or a sign of shifting priorities. “It is not like the president to miss a service, especially one at Bishop Lai’s church, which is a key religious institution,” a congregant noted.
Others, however, downplayed the incident, insisting that his packed schedule simply did not align with the church program. “The president has many responsibilities, and sometimes things don’t go as planned,” a local political analyst remarked.
The President was originally scheduled to arrive at Bishop Wilfred Lai’s Jesus Celebration Centre (JCC) for the morning service at 10 AM. However, delays in his itinerary saw him arrive much later, only to find that the service had ended and the congregation had already dispersed. Realizing the mix-up, the head of state opted to reschedule his visit, confirming that he would attend the 5 PM evening mass instead.
