City lawyer Willis Otieno has cast doubt on President William Ruto’s claim that he is personally funding the construction of a Ksh 1.2 billion church at State House.
Taking to his official X account on Friday, July 4, 2025, Otieno expressed disbelief over the justification provided by the president that the church project is privately financed.
“Kenya has lost direction. Completely. We are being told with a straight face. That a man whose official salary is Ksh 1.4 million a month is building Ksh 1.2 billion church out of his own pocket? Let’s be serious,” Willis Otieno questioned.
“Even if he never ate, never travelled, and never paid a single school fee or tithe, it would still take him over 70 years to save that money, net of tax.”
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State House church project
Otieno’s questioning comes after Ruto defended his decision to construct a church at State House.
The head of state, while speaking at State House on Friday, July 4, 2025, revealed that he will use his own money to build the church, stating that the building, estimated to cost Ksh 1.2 billion, will not cost the government a penny.
“I have decided to build a church that fits the stature of the State House, and it will not cost the government of Kenya a penny. I will use my own money because the Church of God is a place worthy of respect,” Ruto confirmed.
“I am one person who believes in God, and I have no apologies to make for constructing a church. Do you understand me? I am not going to be sorry to anyone for building a church. We shall build the church of God.”
“Let the devil protest the decision and do that which he pleases. I am told that the papers are saying that I am building a church here at the State House. It is indeed true; I am building a church here at the State House.”
Ruto, in addition, pointed out that the church structure he found was made from an iron sheet and did not meet the standards at the State House.
