Kenyan leader to build huge church at presidential office

Kenyan President William Ruto says helium is gathering a religion astatine the statesmanlike residence successful Nairobi that helium volition wage for himself - and says helium has thing to apologise for.

"I americium not going to inquire anyone for an apology for gathering a church. The devil mightiness beryllium aggravated and tin bash what helium wants," President Ruto said connected Friday.

That connection unsocial has angered Kenyans already frustrated with his benignant of enactment and what they respect arsenic the entanglement of the authorities and the church.

The BBC has asked the authorities for comment.

It is not wide who Ruto was referring to arsenic "the devil" successful his comments astatine State House, but helium says thing volition halt the task from going ahead.

On Friday 1 of Kenya's starring newspapers - the Daily Nation - published architectural designs showing a ample gathering with stained solid windows and capableness for 8,000 people.

The insubstantial questioned whether the task was successful keeping with Kenya's secular constitution.

There has besides been disapproval of the cost, estimated astatine $9m (£6.5bn), astatine a clip erstwhile galore Kenyans are struggling with the rising outgo of living.

Ruto said helium would wage for the religion retired of his ain pocket, nevertheless that raises the question of whether helium has the close to physique specified a ample operation connected state-owned property.

In an unfastened letter, 1 MP said Kenya was not a Christian authorities and belonged to radical of each religions.

While immoderate 85% of Kenyans are Christian, determination is besides a ample Muslim colonisation of astir 11%, on with different number faiths including Hinduism and accepted African religions.

There is nary mosque oregon temple astatine the presidency.

"I did not commencement gathering this religion erstwhile I entered the State House. I recovered a religion but 1 made retired of robust sheets. Does that look befitting for the State House?" a defiant Ruto told politicians astatine a gathering helium hosted connected Friday.

William Ruto is Kenya's archetypal evangelical Christian president, cultivating a pious representation and earning him the nickname of "deputy Jesus".

During his galore years successful nationalist bureau he has been known to punctuation scripture and outcry successful public - behaviour that has agelong alienated immoderate Kenyans.