President William Ruto has had to put on hold his quest to build a permanent church at State House.
This follows a High Court order barring him, his associates or anyone acting on his behalf from carrying out the project that has now drawn three court battles.
Justice Chacha Mwita issued the orders yesterday in a case filed by four civil society groups. "A conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the Government of Kenya, its officers and/or anyone acting on its behalf from constructing a permanent church or building associated with any religious faith within the grounds of State House, Nairobi, or any other State House or State Lodges until November 18, 2025," the judge ruled.
In the case, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Transparency International Kenya, Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi, and the Institute of Social Accountability argued that the construction of a church violates Article 8 of the Constitution, which provides that there is no State religion. "By privileging Christianity through such state-linked infrastructure, the government risks entrenching religious favouritism, marginalising other faiths or non-believers, and undermining the constitutional principle of religious neutrality," their lawyer Lempaa Suyianka argued.
