Amid public outrage, Lavington United Church in Kenya has cancelled a fundraiser scheduled for Sunday with first lady Rachael Ruto as its chief guest.

Criticisms poured in after invitation cards showing that Mrs Ruto will be the chief guest at a fundraiser scheduled for June 30 surfaced on the internet late Thursday.

The invitation card signed by Rev Simon Muhati reads: “The Pastoral Team and the Church Leadership cordially invite…to a fundraising event to complete our New Sanctuary on 30th June 2024 from 10 am at Lavington United Church. The Chief Guest will be Her Excellency Mrs. Rachael Ruto, EGH, The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya.”

The sight of the fundraiser invitation card on the internet angered many Kenyans, who berated the church for inviting Mrs Ruto and threatened to storm the fundraiser on June 30.

Mwabili Mwagodi, who identified himself as a hospitality management consultant on X, sent a text message to the Reverend Mutahi: “Good evening, Reverend Mutahi. I started the campaign to get rid of politicians from the church pulpit in Kenya. I see here that you have invited Mrs Rachel Ruto to your church for a fundraiser. This message is to notify you that we are coming for the fundraiser. God bless you.”

@SokoAnalyst, an X user, also shared the invitation card, saying “Dear Lavington United Church, please do not give attention to child butchers and pretenders. If you allow this, then you will be complicit too. This nonsense of giving politicians and their spouse attention in church must stop NOW.”

Amid public outrage at Mrs Ruto’s planned attendance, the Lavington United Church announced the fundraiser’s cancellation.

“The Leadership and Pastoral Team of Lavington United Church wishes to inform members that the Fundraising Event scheduled for 30th June 2024 has been cancelled,” the church announced on Friday.

Kenya has been in turmoil in the past week as youth have taken to the streets in protest against the controversial Finance Bill, which hikes the tax on commodities.

About 25 deaths and over 50 abductions have been recorded so far since the protest turned bloody due to police use of lethal weapons to quell demonstrations.