President William Ruto Finally Admits Building a Sh1.2 Billion Church at State House

President William Ruto has come out strongly to defend the construction of a church within the State House grounds, stating that the project is entirely funded from his personal resources and not taxpayer money.

His remarks follow a report by the Daily Nation which claimed that the President was building a Sh1.2 billion chapel at the State House, sparking public debate and concerns over the blurred lines between religion and the state.

While addressing a delegation from Embu County led by Governor Cecily Mbarire on Thursday, the Head of State dismissed the criticism surrounding the church project, saying he owes no one an apology for expressing his faith through action.

“Mimi ni mtu naamini kwa Mungu, and I have no apologies to make. Kwa kujenga kanisa, I have no apology, na hakuna mtu nitaomba msamaha,” Ruto said.

Confirming that the church is indeed being constructed on the State House premises, Ruto shrugged off the media coverage of the development, making specific reference to the article published earlier that morning.

“Naambiwa ati mpaka kwa gazeti leo kuna mtu anasema ninajenga kanisa hapa,” he noted, downplaying the report and the public criticism it has generated.

The President’s statements come at a time when his open display of faith and regular appearances at church functions have triggered national conversations about the separation of church and state as enshrined in the Constitution. Critics argue that such religious initiatives by a sitting president, particularly on public grounds, risk undermining the neutrality of the state in religious matters.

Despite this, Ruto maintained that building a church at the presidential residence is a personal decision rooted in his deep Christian faith, and emphasized that the project will not cost the government a single cent.

“Nimeamua nijenge kanisa inatoshana na State House na haitagarimu serikali ya Kenya peni moja. Nitajenga kwa sababu kanisa ya Mungu ni pahali inatoshana heshima,” he added.

According to insiders, the idea of a State House chapel has been a long-standing vision of the President, who views it as a sanctuary for worship and reflection within his official residence. Sources close to the presidency describe the project as a fulfillment of Ruto’s desire to anchor leadership on spiritual values.

The Daily Nation report that triggered the controversy had estimated the cost of the chapel at Sh1.2 billion and questioned the propriety of such a development within a government facility. The publication suggested that the move could be viewed as an encroachment on the constitutional principles of secular governance.

Nonetheless, Ruto has reiterated that his faith will continue to inform his decisions and that the church construction will proceed as planned.

The story continues to attract widespread attention, with legal experts, civil society groups, and religious leaders weighing in on the implications of establishing a place of worship within State House. Whether the project deepens the President’s connection with a religious constituency or sparks a constitutional challenge remains to be seen.