President William Ruto has pledged to move forward with plans to build a larger and permanent place of worship inside State House, Nairobi. His declaration comes despite a recent court order barring the government from constructing a permanent church or any religious facility within State House grounds or at other State Lodges.
Addressing a Sunday service at the State House Chapel, Ruto reaffirmed his commitment to expanding worship facilities for those living and working within the compound.
“Here at State House, God will bless us to get a better place for worship. We will not have some people worshipping from outside since we will have a bigger place,” said Ruto.
“I am confident that God will make provisions for us to have a place where we can worship Him in this compound.”
Ruto thanked those responsible for the current State House Chapel, commending them on their efforts to provide consistent worship services.
“We are very happy that we have a place to worship here at State House,” he said, adding that he believed God’s blessings were visible in the country’s recent rainfall and improved agricultural harvests.
“All I ask from all of you is to work hard in whatever you do,” the President told the congregation.
A conservatory order halting the construction until November 18, 2025, when the court will determine a constitutional petition against the project was previously granted by High Court Judge E.C. Mwita.
The case was filed by Transparency International Kenya, the Kenya Human Rights Commission, and two others. They argue that building a religious structure on public land, specifically State House, risks intertwining government action with religious practice, potentially undermining Kenya’s constitutional doctrine of religious neutrality.
