(NEWZIMBABWE.COM) Kenya’s Vice President William Ruto appears to be seeking divine intervention ahead of his trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.
Last Friday, Ruto hosted Spirit Embassy founder Prophet Uebert Angel, the world-renowned British-Zimbabwean preacher.
On its Facebook page, the Spirit Embassy thanked Ruto “and the people of Kenya for choosing… our Lord Jesus Christ as their shield”, but made no reference to the trial which gets underway at the Hague on Tuesday.
Angel turned 34 on Friday and in pictures released by his church, he was seen eating cake with Ruto at his official residence in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The Spirit Embassy said Ruto had thrown a surprise birthday celebration for Angel and his wife, Beverly.
It added: “We are very humbled by the humility that the Vice President, his wife and the people of Kenya showed our father Prophet Uebert Angel.
“The Deputy President has showed an unbelievable love, fear and reverence of God and it takes great courage and humility for a man of his stature to respect the authority of God the supreme ruler.
“Our desire and prayer is that all men of authority, rulers in both the market place and politics can honour God almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ, so that peace, love and harmony may prevail in our continent.
“A nation that reverences and exalts the worship of the true God, that nation will God exalt.”
A spokesman for the church, Pastor Mike, said they would not be issuing any further statement on what the two men had discussed.
He told New Zimbabwe.com: “To God everyone is a soul, and by the grace of God our father Prophet Angel has met many, including leaders of nations, billionaires and the poorest of the poor.
“To say what he meets them for or why they meet him would mean we should tell you why everyone meets him, and it is the Prophet’s rule never to do anything of that sort.”
Prophet Angel’s Spirit Embassy is one of the fastest growing churches in Africa, now with branches in at least ten African countries and many others across the globe including Australia, New Zealand, United States of America and the United Kingdom.
His blindingly accurate prophecies about the deaths of Michael Jackson, former Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the Jomo Kenyatta Airport fire by date and time as well as his ability to foretell unexpected natural disasters and football results have attracted international attention.
Closer to home, Angel’s so-called “prosperity gospel”, captured in his book ‘God’s Get Rich Quick Scheme’, his prophetic abilities and his healing powers have made his church a magnet for the rich and famous as well as others seeking financial breakthroughs and healing.
Through his Miracle TV – a 24-hour television channel which beams Angel’s miracle escapades is watched throughout Africa, the United States and parts of Europe on satellite – Angel has seen his ministry assume an international dimension, and the Kenyan Vice President appears to be one of the young prophet’s growing high-profile followers. Last year, he was hosted by Nelson Mandela in his home in Qunu.
Ruto is charged with three counts of crimes against humanity. He is accused of having organised the 2007-2008 post-election unrest that killed at least 1,100 people and forced more than 600,000 people to flee their homes.
Ruto’s case comes roughly two months before President Uhuru Kenyatta goes on trial on charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, persecution and deportation.
Both Kenyatta and Ruto, who deny the charges, have said they will cooperate fully with the court.
Many Kenyan politicians have branded the ICC a “neo-colonialist” institution that only targets Africans, prompting a debate in Parliament on quitting the Rome Statute of the ICC.
