CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: State House Chaplain Clarifies President Ruto’s Church Project | Bishop Benard Njagi Sets the Record Straight [#BenardNjagi]
CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: State House Chaplain Clarifies President Ruto’s Church Project | Bishop Benard Njagi Sets the Record Straight [#BenardNjagi]
Hi everyone,
State House Chaplain Bishop Benard Njagi has addressed growing concerns and public debate over President William Ruto’s involvement in church construction initiatives across Kenya.
Njagi claimed that a budget of Ksh20 million to 30 million would be sufficient to complete the project.
He did, however, clarify that he was part of a group of worshipers that approached the President about building the church because the current one was in disrepair.
According to the bishop, building a new church would provide adequate worship facilities for approximately 300 families that live within the State House.
In his proposal to the President, Njagi said he requested financial support from Ruto for the construction of a modern Anglican church, a Catholic worship center, and a mosque.
Njagi said as Christians, we approached the President and asked whether he would help us construct a modern church so that we can move away from this iron sheet structure.
He explained, if you observe, the place is very cold, and the children who come here to worship are likely to contract pneumonia. So we approached him to help us, and he agreed.
While supporting Ruto’s intention to build a new church, Njagi admitted that the current status of the worship center made it difficult to hold worship conferences and other major events.
He mentioned that the current Anglican church at State House was built in 2020 with the help of former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, who spotted a dilapidated structure during her morning runs in 2019, only to be told later that it was a church.
🕍 What’s Really Happening
Existing structure: A simple iron-sheet chapel is already on the State House grounds—installed in 2020 with former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta’s help
Request by staff: Chaplain Bernard Njagi and around 300 State House staff families asked President Ruto to fund a modern replacement, citing safety and comfort concerns (cold iron sheets risking pneumonia)
💰 Cost & Scope Clarified
Budget: Estimated between Ksh 20–30 million (≈ US $150–225 k), not Ksh 1.2 billion as circulated
Kenyans
Capacity: Designed for roughly 300 congregants—staff and their families
Pulselive Kenya
Funding source: To be entirely funded by Ruto personally—not government coffers
🔍 President Ruto’s Remarks
He dismissed the Ksh 1.2 billion narrative, saying it was inflated: “How can a church for 300 people cost more than an eleven-storey building at Embu (Ksh 350 m)?”
Emphasized no state religion, and that he simply wants a dignified place of worship “made of stone, not iron sheets”
Clarified that the existing chaplain will continue leading services
Pulselive Kenya
✅ In Summary
A modest, functional chapel (capacity ~300) is set to replace a worn-out iron-sheet structure.
The project is privately financed by Ruto, with an estimated budget of Ksh 20–30 million—not Ksh 1.2 billion.
It’s intended for State House staff, not a public mega-church.
Critics cited inflated costs to stir controversy, but the church project is well within legal and constitutional bounds.
NEWS SOURCE & LINKS:
kenyans.co.ke
STATE HOUSE CHAPLAIN CLARIFIES PRESIDENT RUTO’S CHURCH PROJECT | BISHOP NJAGI SETS RECORD STRAIGHT | Christian News and Views!
STATE HOUSE CHAPLAIN CLARIFIES PRESIDENT RUTO’S CHURCH PROJECT | BISHOP NJAGI SETS RECORD STRAIGHT | Christian News and Views!