First Lady Rachel Ruto was on Wednesday thrust in the eye of a storm after a clip emerged online that had a US-based prosperity gospel preacher claim that she traveled to his church in Florida and invited him to Kenya for an all-government sponsored mega crusades.
Pastor Benny Hinn is an Israeli-born American-Canadian known for televangelism.
He has also made a name for holding massive stadium preaching and healing crusades and summits.
In the undated clip, the pastor claims that the First Lady flew “about four weeks ago” with her team to Orlando, Florida to request him to come to Nairobi and hold the nationwide evangelical campaigns.
The preacher expressed shock at the alleged development, saying no senior official in the rank of First Lady had ever made a similar request to him.
But the only time he was invited to such a nationwide campaign was in Papua Guinea. Like with his claim about Rachel, he did not reveal the dates when he went to Papua Guinea.
"Something amazing happened,” he started when leading a prayer moment.
“The First Lady of Kenya flew from Nairobi with her team, just for one reason; to ask me to come back to Nairobi for a nationwide government-sponsored crusade," Hinn said.
Pastor Hinn revealed that he was asked to lead the crusades jointly in Kenya and Uganda.
He, however, did not reveal the dates and the venues on which the crusade is set to take place.
Rachel, alongside pastor Dorcas Gachagua, the spouse of the deputy president, have been at the forefront of rallying Kenyans to pray for the nation.
Besides televangelism, Hinn is a notable author of best-selling books including Good Morning Holy Spirit.
He is best known for his regular revival meetings and faith healing summits that are usually held in stadiums in major cities, which are later broadcasted on his television programme.
The revelation has sparked outrage among some Kenyans who view the First Lady's trip as wasteful use of taxpayer money in a time of incredible economic hardship.
The First Lady is a way in New York with the President attending the ongoing UN general assembly.
Her team was not available to react.
