Aden Duale Discloses Plans Are Underway to Build Mosque at State House: "We Pray in Corridors"
- The precincts of State House in Nairobi will soon have a mosque beside a church built by President William Ruto
- Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale revealed the president had approved his request to have a mosque built there, detailing the inconveniences Muslims face at State House
- Ruto sparked wild reactions after admitting that he was building a church, which some reports indicated would cost at least KSh 1.2 billion
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Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says President William Ruto has okayed the request to have a mosque built on the grounds of State House, Nairobi.
Source: Facebook
Duale's revelation came days after a storm sparked by the president, who confessed to having plans to build a futuristic church in the State House precincts.
Who will build mosque at State House Nairobi?
The CS said he addressed a request to the president to allow a mosque, which the latter acceded to.
"There is a small room where we, the Muslims, pray at the State House. I told him that as he renovates the church, he should also allow us, using our own money, we renovate our small mosque," Duale said.
He suggested the inconvenience they have praying on the grass and in the corridors five times a day.
"We pray five times a day. So if we stay the whole day in the State House, we pray in the grass and corridors. He has agreed. We told him. There are many well-wishers," he said.
The CS said the mosque would be built from funds pulled by well-wishers from the Muslim community.
Duale defended Ruto over the church, saying the president is undertaking a noble cause.
"The people who make noise don't pray. They don't believe in God, and that is their problem. There was a very big bar during Uhuru Kenyatta's time, and no one complained. People are being unfair to Ruto. He is building the house of God," Duale said.
Ruto, while admitting he was putting up a church, expressed no remorse over the project.
How Ruto defended himself over State House church
The president said he found churches existing in the State House precincts; all he was doing was renovation work.
He said, "I have no apologies to make for building the church. And there is no one I will beg for forgiveness. I have seen in the newspapers that I am building a church at the State House."
Ruto, whose presidential win in 2022 was heavily influenced by religious aspects, also clarified that the funds to build the church would not be drawn from the taxpayers.
Source: Twitter
He affirmed that he is funding the construction personally, without relying on public resources, stating it wouldn't cost the taxpayer any coin and he would proceed because "the church of God deserves dignity."
How much will Ruto's church cost?
The president’s remarks followed reports by a section of the print media which disclosed that a state-of-the-art church valued at KSh 1.2 billion was being constructed within the State House grounds.
According to the reports, the new worship facility is planned to accommodate a minimum of 8,000 congregants.
Blueprints acquired by the publication showed that the building—labelled as a ‘Cathedral’—was crafted by Skair Architects Limited.
The design features towering windows and a prominent cross atop the main spire, likely emphasising the building’s religious significance and ensuring visibility from afar.
Two crosses are included in the architectural plan, one positioned at the front and another at the rear, with the front cross being more prominent.
Inside, the chapel boasts a spacious central hall arranged with four sections of pews, intended to seat several thousand worshippers.
It would also feature a helipad.
According to the president, the new church will be of help to the hundreds of families residing within State House.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
