Ruto: State House was ‘juakali’, now I have fixed it

President William Ruto/PCS

President William Ruto cracked up religious leaders after joking that State House was previously in a “juakali” condition before renovations were carried out.

He was defending ongoing upgrades at the house on the hill and the construction of a church within the compound.

Speaking on Saturday during a meeting with faith leaders from Bungoma County at State House, the President made light-hearted remarks while explaining why he undertook renovations at the official residence.

Ruto said the State House complex hosts nearly 1,000 people and requires improvements to match the status of the country’s seat of power.

“We have a small iron-sheet church. This building was not here. I came and built it,” he said.

In comments that sent the audience into laughter, the President described the condition he found some parts of the State House in when he assumed office.

"Iyo state house mnaona hapo ilikuwa juakali. Sahi nimerekebisha kwa sababu sasa kama mahali mimi nafanyia kazi ati Kona moja inararuka, inatoa..(That State House you see there was like a juakali setup. I have now fixed it because how can the place where I work have one corner peeling off and falling apart? He said before pausing briefly as those present burst into laughter.

He went on to reveal that during rainy seasons, workers used to move around trying to clear the leaking water.

“Sometimes when it rained, people would walk around pretending to sweep water away,” he said, triggering another round of laughter from attendees.

"Kama mimi siwezi kupanga mahali nafanya kazi nitapanga ya wakenya? (If I cannot organise where I work, how will I organise Kenya?” he asked as the audience agreed and laughed along.

Ruto said he decided to proceed with the renovations despite criticism from some quarters, adding that the improvements had since started speaking for themselves.

“So I said, let me fix it. People made noise about it, and that is okay. The other day, I saw some people beginning to admit that it does not look bad. It is actually good,” he said, nodding as he drew more laughter.

The President also addressed the ongoing construction of a church within the State House compound, a project that has in the past generated mixed reactions.

He defended the construction, saying the chapel is meant to serve employees working within the State House.

He argued that it would be inappropriate for the country’s official residence to continue having a temporary iron-sheet structure as a place of worship.

“That church people have been complaining about is right behind here. It will be completed soon. It is a chapel for the people who work here," he said

"Hatuwezi kuwa na kanisa ya mabati statehouse. Ni aibu (We cannot have an iron-sheet church at State House. It is embarrassing)” he added, eliciting further amusement from those present.

Ruto maintained that no public funds would be used for the project, insisting that he and his friends would personally finance the construction.

“I have not asked anyone for money to build it, and I have not said it will be built using government money. I will build it together with my friends,” he said.

In another humorous remark that again sparked laughter, the President said anyone who occupies State House after him and does not want the church would be free to demolish it.