The Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) has sharply criticised the government over what it termed as Ksh1.2 billion allocation for a new church at State House, calling it a misplaced priority.
The post, shared on X on July 4, 2025, highlighted the dire state of schools, hospitals, and other essential infrastructure, accusing the administration of neglecting public needs.
“While schools, hospitals and other necessary infrastructure continue to wallow in a bad state, Kaongo is building a Ksh 1.2B church at the State House. Such priorities are what are making Kenyans stand for…. Very sad!” DAP-K’s statement read.
The church, which is said to be intended to serve as a place of worship within the State House grounds, has sparked widespread debate.
DAP-K’s criticism reflects growing public frustration, as many Kenyans feel the government is overlooking critical sectors.
Schools across the country often lack proper classrooms, books, and teachers, while public hospitals struggle with outdated equipment and medicine shortages. Roads and other infrastructure also remain in poor condition, affecting daily life and economic growth.
Public needs overlooked
Critics argue that the government should focus on fixing crumbling infrastructure and improving public services rather than funding a lavish project like a State House church.
On June 19, 2025, Parliament approved the Finance Bill to fund a Ksh4.29 trillion budget. The bill, signed into law by President William Ruto on 26 June, outlines Ksh1,805.02 billion for recurrent expenditure and Ksh744.52 billion for development projects.
It introduces tax relief measures, such as removing deductions on retirement gratuities and raising the tax-free ceiling for per diems from Ksh2,000 to Ksh10,000. However, it faced protests over fears it would raise living costs, with critics arguing it would burden ordinary Kenyans.
However, there are no reports on whether the Ksh1.2 billion allocation for the church comes from the 2025/2026 budget, which has already stirred debate due to the recent passing of the Finance Bill 2025.
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
