President William Ruto has rubbished claims that the church being built at State House will be at the cost of Sh1.2 billion, as reported by one of the local dailies.
Speaking at the ACK Diocese of Embu Diocesan 35th Anniversary Thanksgiving at Kigari Teachers Training College, in Embu, Ruto said he does not know where the figure came from.
He insisted that there is no way the church would cost more than an 11-storey building that costs Sh350 million.
The President cautioned against spreading propaganda and hatred against the church of God.
“The Bishop has shown me the building we are constructing, it has eleven floors. It has been estimated that it will cost Sh350 million. Let me ask, if the church is big enough for three hundred people, can it cost a billion shillings? Please stop the gossip, propaganda and hatred. Why do you hate the church of God? I don't know where these people got the billions,” Ruto said.
He went on to explain that the church will be used about 300 staff families stationed at Nairobi.
Ruto clarified that he also did start the church but he found it there and the only thing he has done is to have it changed from an iron sheet structure to a permanent structure.
“The church we are building is big enough for those children and the three hundred families, we have a Sunday school there and I didn’t start the church, I found it there. What I have done is to say that instead of the church there being made of iron sheets, let's build a stone one.”
Ruto said those spreading such information are only plotting against the government.
“They are plotting a lot against us, and mocking us. I beg you to respect the word of God. Those in State House are Kenyans like the others and Christians.”
The President said he cannot go around fundraising to build churches around the country when the one at State House remains made of iron sheets.
He questioned how he can renovate State House and live in a good place when God's church remains made of iron sheet.
