Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Yaa Baya has hailed Deputy President William Ruto, for helping him towards the translation of the first Giriama Bible.
Hosted by House of Bishops and Pastors, Ruto was in Kilifi County on Sunday for a fundraiser organised by the ODM MP which would see the Agiriama community get their first Bible written in Giriama language.
The DP donated Sh2.5 million and informed that the sum included President Uhuru Kenyatta’s contribution.
At least 14 MPs from the Coast accompanied Ruto and helped him raise the remaining Sh4.5 million that was required to complete printing and shipment of the Bible.
Speaking at Karisa Maitha Grounds in Kilifi town where an interdenominational church service was also held, Baya said it has always been a "dream that the Agiriama have had in wanting the bible translated into their dialect."
"I have always believed that there is no greater joy than reading scriptures and telling a salvation story to a community in the language that is familiar to them. Let the Giriama bible be of much help to the church simultaneously people get to love the authoritative and infallible word of God and which is sufficient for all our needs," the lawmaker added.
He also commended other national and local leaders, the director of Bible Translation and Literacy and the Christian family of Kilifi.
Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa also attended the service and donated Sh100,000 while Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi raised Sh700,000 including his personal donation of Sh200,000.
A new version of the Giriama Bible costs more than Sh84 million and took 14 years to translate according to the Bible Translation and Literacy.
Baya said the Bible translation was an initiative of his father and will be out in March 2018.
"The new version is currently in the US for verification before being printed. Shipment of the first 5,000 copies will be done before mid-next year and will be supplied to churches in the Coast region," added the legislator.
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