The ongoing public discourse surrounding the proposed Ksh1.2 billion church project within State House Nairobi has escalated, with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stepping forward to mount a staunch defense of President William Ruto. Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive show, CS Duale accused the project's critics of unfairness, religious bias, and glaring double standards, igniting a spirited debate about the role of faith and public facilities in Kenya's highest office.
Duale's core argument rests on the premise that the presence of places of worship within government buildings is far from a novel concept and should, therefore, not be the subject of such widespread public outrage. He pointedly referenced previous administrations, including those of former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta – both of whom were Catholic – asserting that their tenures saw no similar backlash when religious facilities existed within State House. This historical comparison forms the backbone of his defense, suggesting a selective condemnation aimed at the current Head of State. Duale even made a pointed remark about a "very big bar" reportedly present during a past administration, implying a hypocrisy in current criticisms.
"You are being very unfair to William Ruto. I mean, you're building a house of God… there was a very big bar and nobody complained during my friend's time," Duale stated, adding a sharp critique of the Catholic Church: "The Catholic church was very vibrant during Moi’s time but kept quiet throughout the 10 years of Kibaki and Uhuru’s because they were Catholics. They must be conscious because there are other denominations and religions in this country and there is freedom of worship.” This suggests a call for greater awareness of Kenya's multi-religious fabric and the principle of equitable religious freedom.
Further elaborating on the existing religious provisions within State House, CS Duale revealed the presence of a modest room specifically designated for Muslim staff to perform their prayers. He disclosed that he had personally approached President Ruto with a request to allow its renovation, emphasizing the Muslim community's willingness to use their own funds for the project. “There is a small room where we the Muslims pray in State House. I told him as you renovate your church, allow us, also using our own money, to renovate our small mosque because we pray five times a day,” he explained, highlighting the practical needs of staff of various faiths. He added, “When we stay a whole day there, we will pray in the corridors and on the grass and we told him to look for us a small place and we would build our own mosque.”
In a demonstration of persistent advocacy, Duale also shared that he had again urged President Ruto to allocate even more prayer space for Muslims within the State House compound. “You people have refused your church and go to court, but today I told the president give us a corner, at least near the wall so other Muslims can come and pray,” he revealed, pointing to the ongoing legal challenges against the Christian church project.
