Roots Party leader Professor George Wajackoyah has launched a sharp attack on President William Ruto regarding the ongoing construction of a church within the grounds of State House, Nairobi. Wajackoyah, a prominent figure known for his controversial policy proposals, has boldly pledged to demolish the structure should he ascend to the presidency in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a YouTube Podcast on Thursday, July 24, 2025, Wajackoyah vehemently criticized the development, branding it both unconstitutional and unlawful. He adamantly maintained that State House, as a revered national symbol and heritage site, must remain a secular, publicly owned, and neutral institution, representing all Kenyans regardless of their faith or beliefs.
“The church he is building in the State House, I will destroy. The day I’m sworn in, watu wataenda huko wavute bangi na tuudestroy hiyo kitu kabisa,” Wajackoyah declared.
He further warned that this religious structure directly undermines the constitutional safeguards designed to protect State House as a monument belonging to every citizen.
Wajackoyah passionately argued that no president possesses the unilateral mandate to convert a public monument into a place of worship without explicit consultation with the citizenry. He questioned the very authority under which such a project could proceed.
“Because the Constitution does not allow you. Where did he get the authority to build a church in a monumental place which is protected by the Constitution and owned by the people of Kenya?” he posed, challenging the legality and democratic principles behind the construction.
The outspoken politician went on to suggest that, if elected president, he would initiate a comprehensive nationwide dialogue on the future of the church structure. His proposals for its repurposing ranged from providing public access for various activities to even controversially converting it into a prison. “Mimi nikikuwa president hiyo kitu tunavuta bangi ndani na tuichome kwanza. It has no significance to me. I will ask the people if they want it converted into a prison,” he remarked, reiterating his distinctive political style.
Ruto’s Stance on church
The church at the center of this heated debate is reportedly a project estimated to cost approximately Ksh1.2 billion (about $9.2 million USD), currently under construction within the secure State House compound. This substantial investment has drawn mixed reactions from the public and critics alike, with many questioning the timing and financial priorities, particularly amid Kenya’s persistent economic difficulties, including rising public debt and underfunded essential services.
President William Ruto, however, has publicly stood firm by the project, brushing off the widespread criticism. Speaking during a public function on Friday, July 4, 2025, the Head of State asserted that the church is a direct expression of his personal faith and deeply held values.
“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,” Ruto stated emphatically.
He further emphasized his spiritual convictions, dismissing the backlash as opposition from “the devil.” “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,” he added.
According to the President, the existing State House chapel, which he described as an “iron-sheet structure,” no longer befits the stature of the presidency, and a more dignified and permanent worship space is necessary.
As the debate intensifies, the fate of the controversial church now squarely sits at the intersection of religion, politics, constitutional interpretation, and public sentiment. This contentious issue is widely expected to become a significant talking point and shape campaign narratives as Kenya gears up for the 2027 general elections. The Atheist in Kenya Society has already termed the project “unconstitutional and exclusionary” and filed a petition in Kenya’s High Court, with the matter scheduled to be heard on July 24, 2025, further escalating the legal and public challenge to the construction.