Completely out of order! Karua to Ruto State House church

A clarification by President William Ruto that a church construction at State House will not be funded from public coffers has done little to silence critics who still feel the entire project is improper.

Ruto, on Friday, July 4, was unapologetic and strongly defended the move, saying it aligns with his strong faith in God.

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

(I'm someone who believes in God, and I have no apologies to make for constructing a church, and I will not be apologetic to anyone)

"Na sijengi na pesa ya serikali, mimi najenga na pesa yangu (And I'm not using public funds, I'm using my own money).

The President spoke at the State House when he hosted grassroots leaders from Embu County.

Critics of the church construction have cited a violation of Article 8 of the Constitution, which addresses the separation of state and religion.

The article safeguards religious freedom and equality for all citizens by preventing the government from establishing a state-sponsored religion.

It specifically states that "there shall be no state religion".

While commenting on the President's strong stance, People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua said: Not your land, not your money to do as you please. Completely out of order."

Media reports, which Ruto confirmed to be true, claimed that the imposing structure will have the capacity to host 8,000 people and will cost hundreds of millions of shillings to construct.

Ruto defended the idea, saying he found an iron sheet church at State House and all he wants to do is upgrade it to match the status of State House.

"Nitakuja kuwapeleka siku ngine twende tuombe huko (I will take you there one day for a prayer service)," he told the visiting Embu delegation.

"So, mimi sijaanzisha kanisa State House, nilikuta ikiweko. Shida tu ilikuwa ya mabati (So I haven't started a church at State House, I found one already existed, only that it is made of iron sheets)," he said.

The Atheist in Kenya Society has, on its par,t vowed to move to court to block the construction of the church, terming the action "a promotion of Christian nationalism".

At its core, the construction of a church at the State House threatens the principle of the separation of church and state and undermines Article 8 of the Kenyan constitution," the society's president Harrison Mumia said in a statement.

"We have directed our lawyers to immediately initiate legal action."