In the vibrant tapestry of Kenyan public life, few issues intertwine as complexly as faith and governance. This intricate relationship has recently been brought to the forefront by the ongoing construction of a new church within the hallowed grounds of State House, Nairobi. While President William Ruto has staunchly defended the initiative as a personal act of devotion funded from his own resources, the project has ignited a fervent national debate, attracting sharp criticism and even legal challenges from various quarters, notably the Humanist Society of Kenya.
The controversy gained significant traction following a report by the Daily Nation on Friday, July 4, 2025, which unveiled architectural designs of a grand structure – replete with large stained-glass windows and prominent crosses – estimated to cost a staggering Ksh 1.2 billion and designed to seat an impressive 8,000 worshippers. This revelation immediately sparked questions about the scale of the project and its appropriateness within the official presidential residence, regardless of the funding source.
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President Ruto, ever direct, addressed the concerns head-on while hosting leaders from Embu County. He unequivocally affirmed his personal commitment to faith, stating, "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." (I am a person who believes in God, and I have no apologies to make. For building a church, I have no apology, and there is no one I will apologize to.) He acknowledged the media attention, even quipping about seeing reports in the newspaper that very day.
Further elaborating on his decision, the Head of State clarified that he was not founding a new church but rather replacing an existing, temporary structure. "I did not start the church at State House; I found it already there. The only problem is that it was built using iron sheets. So, I have decided to build a church that matches the State House," he explained. He reiterated his commitment that the project would not cost the Kenyan government "even a single penny," emphasizing, "I will build it using my own money because the house of God should reflect dignity and honour."
However, the President later rubbished the Ksh 1.2 billion cost estimate during an event in Embu on Sunday, July 6. He challenged the figure, questioning how a church designed for approximately 300 staff families could possibly exceed the cost of an 11-storey building estimated at Ksh 350 million. "Why do you hate the church of God? I don’t know where these people got the billions," he cautioned against what he termed "gossip, propaganda, and hatred towards the church of God." He clarified that the church would primarily serve the roughly 300 staff families stationed at State House.
Despite the President's assurances on personal funding and reduced cost, the Humanist Society of Kenya, led by President Harrison Mumia, remains vehemently opposed. In a statement issued on July 4, they condemned the move as "anti-democratic" and a promotion of "Christian nationalism." Their core argument rests on Article 8 of the Kenyan Constitution, which unequivocally states: "There shall be no State religion."
The Humanist Society views the construction as a direct threat to the principle of the separation of church and state, arguing that Kenya is a secular nation belonging to people of all faiths, not just Christians. They have since directed their lawyers to initiate legal proceedings, describing the project as an "egregious misuse of taxpayer funds," despite the President's denial of public financing. Their concern is rooted in the symbolism: erecting a permanent, prominent Christian edifice on public land like State House, irrespective of the funding source, could be interpreted as state endorsement of one religion, potentially marginalizing other faiths and undermining the constitutional commitment to religious neutrality.
