NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has defended the controversial construction of a church within State House Nairobi, insisting it reflects the dignity of Kenya’s highest office and dismissing reports that taxpayers are footing the bill for the Sh1.2 billion project.
Speaking during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Embu County at State House on Friday, Ruto told off critics questioning the necessity and cost of the church project, saying he is personally funding the upgrade.
“Mimi ni mtu naamini Mungu, and I have no apologies to make for building a church at State House,” Ruto said to applause. “Tutajenga kanisa ya Mungu, shetani akasirike, afanye chenye anataka.”
‘I Found a Tin Church at State House’
The president revealed that the current structure—allegedly a makeshift tin church—was already present when he assumed office in 2022.
“Nilikuja nikapata kanisa ya mabati. Kanisa ya mabati inatoshana na State House ata kwa maoni yenu?” he posed. “Na sijengi na pesa ya serikali, najenga na pesa yangu.”
Ruto said he decided to upgrade the church to a more befitting structure, arguing that the house of God within the State House grounds should reflect both spiritual reverence and presidential stature.
Public Uproar Over Church Project
His comments come amid growing public debate over a Daily Nation report alleging that the new church—an 8,000-seater with grand stained-glass windows and towering crosses—would cost Ksh.1.2 billion.
While the government has not officially confirmed the cost, the report triggered widespread backlash online and from civil society, with critics calling it a misplaced priority at a time when Kenyans are grappling with a high cost of living, unemployment, and funding gaps in education and healthcare.
Legal experts and political leaders also raised constitutional concerns, pointing to Article 8 of the Kenyan Constitution, which states that Kenya has no state religion.
“Kenya is a secular state. The president is not just a leader of Christians,” Mumias East MP Peter Salasya said earlier in the week, accusing Ruto of hiding governance failures behind religion.
Ruto’s Strong Religious Identity
President Ruto, a devout Christian known for frequently quoting the Bible and attending prayer rallies, has leaned heavily into religious symbolism during his presidency.
In recent months, he has pushed for national prayer events and hosted religious leaders at State House, often framing political decisions in moral or spiritual terms.
Despite the criticism, Ruto appears unfazed.
“I did not start a church here; it was there. The only problem was that it was made of mabati. Now I’m building one that matches the stature of State House,” he said.
