US EditionKenya: Ruto Says 'Mabati Chapel Not Fit for State House'
NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA, JUL 6 – KHRC warns that Ruto's State House church and Passaris' protest bill risk undermining constitutional secularism and civil liberties, with critics highlighting potential religious favoritism and protest restrictions.
- President William Ruto confirmed on July 7, 2025, that he is constructing a church at State House Nairobi, describing the current chapel as a temporary iron-sheet structure unfit for the institution.
- Ruto's announcement follows published architectural plans for a grand Sh1.2 billion chapel accommodating 8,000 worshippers, which he asserts will be financed personally without using public funds.
- The church construction has sparked debate, with critics like Kalonzo Musyoka and the Atheists Society deeming it unconstitutional and a promotion of Christian nationalism, while religious leaders call for clarity on the structure's purpose.
- Nelius Njuguna of KHRC warned that the project risks institutionalizing religious favoritism and breaching Kenya's secular Constitution, while also opposing proposed protest restrictions seen as suppressing fundamental freedoms.
- The controversy over the State House church reflects broader concerns about governance, secularism, and civil liberties amid ongoing youth-led protests and government actions perceived as limiting political expression.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Kenya: I Didn't Start the Church At State House It Was Already There - President Ruto
President William Ruto has defended the ongoing construction of a new church building at State House, saying it is inappropriate for the house of God to remain in a dilapidated state while he lives in comfort at the house on the hill.
Kenyan president presses forward with plans to build a state Anglican chapel
The President of Kenya, William Ruto, pushed back against his critics, including the primate of the Anglican Church, on Sunday, defending his plans to build an Anglican chapel on the grounds of the State House in Nairobi. Speaking at Kigari Teachers Training College in Embu County during a service marking the 35th anniversary of the Anglican Church of Kenya’s Embu Diocese, President Ruto said press reports about the size, cost, and function of t…
Maponga Urges Ruto: “Build Factories, Not Churches Industrialize Africa, Don’t Christianize It” - Gambakwe Media
Bishop Maponga Joshua Mara-Rah III has issued a bold message to Kenyan President William Ruto, calling on him to prioritize industrial development over religious symbolism in national policy. In a strongly worded statement posted on social media, Maponga addressed President Ruto directly. “Honorable President Ruto, we advise you to consider building a factory instead of a church. In church, people pray for jobs, but in a factory, they will be wo…
Omtatah Exposes Ruto’s Budget Trickery Behind State House Church
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has condemned plans to construct a mega church at State House Nairobi, calling the project a blatant violation of Kenya’s Constitution and an attempt to misuse public funds under the guise of religious devotion. In a statement released on July 7, Omtatah accused President William Ruto of acting outside the law by allegedly pushing for a religious structure to be built on public land. He stated that Kenya is a secular …
Ruto’s truth on controversial State House chapel: Cost, capacity & the chaplain
President William Ruto has given his truth on the controversial chapel that is under construction at State House amid backlash over the project. Media reports had earlier on placed the cost at Sh1.2billion with a capacity of 8000 people. Described as an ultra-modern chapel, the facility that is under construction was reported to boast of private offices and prayer rooms. Capacity & cost of construction According to President Ruto who addressed t…
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