'Let Ruto pray,' Duale backs State House Church, pushes for construction of Mosque

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended President William Ruto amid widespread criticism over the construction of a Ksh.1.2 billion church inside State House Nairobi, saying Kenyans are being unfair to the Head of State.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive show on Wednesday night, Duale accused critics of the project of religious bias and double standards, reiterating that the presence of places of worship within government buildings is not new and should not be a subject of public outrage.

Duale argued that other administrations, including those of former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, who were both Catholic, did not face similar backlash when religious facilities existed within State House.

“You are being very unfair to William Ruto. I mean, you're building a house of God… there was a very big bar and nobody complained during my friend's time, and I would take tea as they take...” said Duale.

“The Catholic church was very vibrant during Moi’s time but kept quiet throughout the 10 years of Kibaki and Uhuru’s because they were Catholics. They must be conscious because there are other denominations and religions in this country and there is freedom of worship.”

He further revealed that there is a small room at State House where Muslim staff pray, and that he personally requested President Ruto to allow its renovation.

“There is a small room where we the Muslims pray in State House. I told him as you renovate your church, allow us, also using our own money, to renovate our small mosque because we pray five times a day,” said Duale.

He added: “When we stay a whole day there, we will pray in the corridors and on the grass and we told him to look for us a small place and we would build our own mosque.”

Duale also disclosed that he had again urged President Ruto to allocate Muslims more prayer space at State House.

“You people have refused your church and go to court, but today I told the president give us a corner, at least near the wall so other Muslims can come and pray,” he said.

The CS stressed that prayer is an essential part of both Christian and Muslim practice, noting that even in other government offices such as Afya House, staff have dedicated prayer rooms.

“There are over 300 security and staff in State House. Even in Afya House you will find a small room where people can pray during lunch time. The president found the church there; during Moi’s time, Uhuru, Kibaki... it was there,” he said.

Duale also criticised the morality of some of the project’s loudest detractors saying, “The people who are making a lot of noise don't pray; they don't believe in God. And that is their problem,” he remarked.

“But don't worry, the people making that noise — some of them are not even in Kenya.”

The CS insisted that a God-fearing nation must reflect its religious identity in all institutions, including the seat of power.

“The seat of government must reflect the religiosity of a nation. A nation that prays and believes in God will go very far,” said Duale.