Bishop Kiengei urges Ruto to abandon Sh1.2bn State House church plan

In a viral sermon, renowned televangelist Bishop Ben Kiengei publicly advised President William Ruto urging him to reconsider his controversial plan of building a modern church within the State House compound.

Bishop Kiengei cautioned that God wouldn’t dwell in the church if He didn’t find the President’s heart habitable in the first place.

“Someone tell the President of the nation. By building a church in the statehouse God won’t come and live in the statehouse, if God cannot live in the President’s heart. God is not found in the stones, iron sheets but in the hearts of people,” he preached.

Bishop Muthee Kiengei stated that prior to building a luxurious church, people needed to embrace God and act by his will in order for His presence to shine upon them.

He urged Kenyans to repent and allow God into their hearts, the leaders’, Parliament, Senate, Judiciary and even police stations. 

" If God cannot live in your heart he will not live in the 1.2 billion church in Statehouse "- A pastor suspends peace to lecture Kasongo! pic.twitter.com/s6iMQw51dN

— The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) July 6, 2025

This comes after teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’ succumbed while in police custody at Central Police Station. Recently, mask vendor Boniface Kariuki died after a rogue police officer shot him in his skull during the anti-police protests.

Last year, young protesters were killed outside the Parliament building and all over the country during the anti-finance bill protests.

“Before we built a church in the statehouse, let us build God in the nation of Kenya. Let us allow revival in the nation and allow God to enter the house of the leaders. Carry God and take him to the Parliament, Senate, Judiciary and police stations. Carry God and stop the bloodshed in this nation. God does not live in the church; He lives with us. If you cannot allow God in us, He will never come,” Bishop Kiengei said.

This wake-up call from the JCM Bishop comes after President William Ruto confirmed the church's construction and had already kicked off.

The proposed church was estimated to be worth Sh.1.2 Billion and designed to house up to 8,000 congregants. The Bishop added that with Kenya’s diverse religious practices, having a church alone in the Statehouse would show bias.

“President William Samoei Ruto, don’t build a church in the State House. Our constitution entails freedom of worship. We have Muslims, Buddhists, Hinduism, and other religions in this nation. Why allow other faiths to fight Christianity?" Bishop Kiengei said.

Instead, he advised President Ruto to build a building that would cater for all religions including Islam and Hindu.

“If you have to see us all worship, build an auditorium where we can all change functions. It will be cheaper. The rest of the money, direct it to our schools and medical facilitation,” the JCM Bishop suggested.