President William Ruto has confirmed that he is building a church at State House.
Speaking to Embu leaders on Friday, July 4, Ruto stated that he had no apologies to make for building the church.
He revealed that he found an existing church at State House when he got into office. However, the structure was made of iron sheets.
Given that it did not meet the standard of the house on the hill, Ruto stated that he decided to construct a permanent structure.
"I have heard people saying in the newspapers that I am building a church at State House. It is true," he affirmed.
Read More
"I came and found a church made of iron sheets. Does such a structure really meet the standards of State House?"
He also clarified that no taxpayers' money was being used in the construction exercise.
"I am not using government funds to build it. I am using my own money," Ruto clarified.
"Therefore, I did not start a church at State House. I found it. The only problem is that it was made of iron sheets."
The President made the remarks after media reports indicated that a Ksh1.2 billion church was being put up at State House.
The cathedral-like structure is expected to hold 8,000 congregants.
Notably, when speaking on the matter on Friday, he did not speak on the overall cost of the project.
However, after the emergence of the report, there was an uproar from a section of Kenyans who questioned why the project was being undertaken.
As argued by some Kenyans, the country has many religious outfits; therefore, building a church will make other religions feel left out.
"Kenya is a secular state. The gov't has no business spending Ksh1.2 billion on a church at State House. Are Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, Legio Maria, Wakurino, and Jehovah Wanyonyi followers getting Ksh1.2B each too?
"This is 100% illegal, unconstitutional, and a slap in the face of every Kenyan taxpayer," George Njoroge stated on X (this was before Ruto confirmed that he was using his resources to build the church).
