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Qatar Tribune
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Kenyan leader to build huge church at presidential office
Kenyan President William Ruto has said he is building a church at the presidential residence in Nairobi that he will pay for himself - and said he has nothing to apologise for. 'I am not going to ask anyone for an apology for building a church. The devil might be angry and can do what he wants,' Ruto said on Friday. That statement alone has angered Kenyans already frustrated with his style of leadership and what they regard as the entanglement of the state and the church. It is not clear who Ruto was referring to as 'the devil' in his comments at State House, but he says nothing will stop the project from going ahead. 'I did not start building this church when I entered the State House. I found a church but one made out of iron sheets. Does that look befitting for the State House?' a defiant Ruto told politicians at a meeting he hosted on Friday. On Friday, one of Kenya's leading newspapers, the Daily Nation, published architectural designs showing a large building with stained glass windows and capacity for 8,000 people. The paper questioned whether the project was in keeping with Kenya's secular constitution.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kenyan leader to build huge church at presidential office
Kenyan President William Ruto says he is building a church at the presidential residence in Nairobi that he will pay for himself - and says he has nothing to apologise for. "I am not going to ask anyone for an apology for building a church. The devil might be angry and can do what he wants," President Ruto said on Friday. That statement alone has angered Kenyans already frustrated with his style of leadership and what they regard as the entanglement of the state and the church. The BBC has asked the government for comment. It is not clear who Ruto was referring to as "the devil" in his comments at state house, but he says nothing will stop the project from going ahead. On Friday one of Kenya's leading newspapers - the Daily Nation - published architectural designs showing a large building with stained glass windows and capacity for 8,000 people. The paper questioned whether the project was in keeping with Kenya's secular constitution. There has also been criticism of the cost, estimated at $9m (£6.5bn) at a when time many Kenyans are struggling with the rising cost of living. Ruto said he would pay for the church out of his own pocket, however that raises the question of whether he has the right to build such a large structure on state-owned property. In an open letter, one MP said Kenya was not a Christian state andbelonged to people of all religions. The diverse East African nation is also home to many of followers of Islam, Hinduism and traditional African religions - as well as some agnostics and atheists. There is no mosque or temple at the presidency. "I did not start building this church when I entered the State House. I found a church but one made out of iron sheets. Does that look befitting for the State House?" a defiant Ruto told politicians at a meeting he hosted on Friday. El Chapo & Deputy Jesus - why Kenya's president has so many nicknames Why Kenya's evangelical president has fallen out with churches How African popes changed Christianity - and gave us Valentine's Day Ghana to investigate ex-president's controversial $400m cathedral project Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Kenya's William Ruto to build huge church at State House
Kenyan President William Ruto says he is building a church at the presidential residence in Nairobi that he will pay for himself - and says he has nothing to apologise for."I am not going to ask anyone for an apology for building a church. The devil might be angry and can do what he wants," President Ruto said on statement alone has angered Kenyans already frustrated with his style of leadership and what they regard as the entanglement of the state and the BBC has asked the government for comment. It is not clear who Ruto was referring to as "the devil" in his comments at state house, but he says nothing will stop the project from going Friday one of Kenya's leading newspapers - the Daily Nation - published architectural designs showing a large building with stained glass windows and capacity for 8,000 paper questioned whether the project was in keeping with Kenya's secular constitution. There has also been criticism of the cost, estimated at $9m (£6.5bn) at a when time many Kenyans are struggling with the rising cost of living. Ruto said he would pay for the church out of his own pocket, however that raises the question of whether he has the right to build such a large structure on state-owned an open letter, one MP said Kenya was not a Christian state andbelonged to people of all diverse East African nation is also home to many of followers of Islam, Hinduism and traditional African religions - as well as some agnostics and atheists. There is no mosque or temple at the presidency."I did not start building this church when I entered the State House. I found a church but one made out of iron sheets. Does that look befitting for the State House?" a defiant Ruto told politicians at a meeting he hosted on Friday. You may also be interested in: How African popes changed Christianity - and gave us Valentine's DayWhy Kenya's evangelical president has fallen out with churchesGhana to investigate ex-president's controversial $400m cathedral project Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Saudi Gazette
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Kenya's deputy police chief steps aside amid uproar over blogger's death
NAIROBI — Kenya's deputy police chief Eliud Lagat has stepped aside pending the outcome of investigations into the death in detention of blogger Albert Ojwang. Lagat had been under pressure to resign from the opposition and human rights activists as Ojwang was arrested after he filed a complaint, accusing the blogger of defaming him on social media. Police initially said that Ojwang died of self-inflicted wounds, but were forced to retract the statement after an autopsy found that he was likely to have died from assault wounds. Lagat denied any wrongdoing, but said in a statement that he was stepping aside in the "good and conscious thought" of his responsibilities as deputy police chief. "I undertake to provide any support that may be required of me during the investigations of the unfortunate incident," Lagat said. "I offer immense condolences to the family of Albert Ojwang for their great loss," he added. Until the investigation is concluded, Lagat will have no access to his office, and his duties will be performed by his deputy. This comes amid intensifying pressure, with more demonstrations planned this week by activists demanding a transparent investigation into the 31-year-old blogger's death. Ojwang was arrested in his village of Kakoth, near the western town of Homa Bay, on 7 June. He was then driven to the main police station in Nairobi, and was reported to have died a few days later. Kenya's President William Ruto spoke with Ojiang's father, Meshack Opiyo, following his son's death, the local Daily Nation news site reports. "He [Ruto] said: 'I'm sorry,' and we spoke at length. His words were sincere," Opiyo is quoted as saying. Ruto promised to give the family two million Kenyan shillings ($15,500; £11,4000) to help cover funeral costs, while veteran opposition politician Raila Odinga, who also spoke to the family, pledged half the amount, the newspaper reports. In an initial statement, police said Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell and was rushed to a city hospital, where he succumbed to head injuries allegedly sustained from banging his head against the wall. But an autopsy report and an investigation by the police watchdog, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), ruled out the possibility that Ojwang might have killed himself. While investigations continue, the head of the police station has been detained, along with another officer and a technician accused of disabling the station's CCTV. Police chief Douglas Kanja has apologized for the initial police claim that the blogger died of self-inflicted wounds, saying it was based on "misinformation" from his juniors. Ruto has called for a swift investigation, and has promised that his government would "protect citizens from rogue police officers". Ruto first pledged to end Kenya's history of police brutality and extrajudicial killings when he came to power in 2022. But nearly 160 cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances were reported across Kenya last year, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC). At least 20 people have died while in police detention in the past four months alone, according to the IPOA. — BBC
Saudi Gazette
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Kenya's deputy police chief steps aside amid uproar over blogger's death
NAIROBI — Kenya's deputy police chief Eliud Lagat has stepped aside pending the outcome of investigations into the death in detention of blogger Albert Ojwang. Lagat had been under pressure to resign from the opposition and human rights activists as Ojwang was arrested after he filed a complaint, accusing the blogger of defaming him on social media. Police initially said that Ojwang died of self-inflicted wounds, but were forced to retract the statement after an autopsy found that he was likely to have died from assault wounds. Lagat denied any wrongdoing, but said in a statement that he was stepping aside in the "good and conscious thought" of his responsibilities as deputy police chief. "I undertake to provide any support that may be required of me during the investigations of the unfortunate incident," Lagat said. "I offer immense condolences to the family of Albert Ojwang for their great loss," he the investigation is concluded, Lagat will have no access to his office, and his duties will be performed by his comes amid intensifying pressure, with more demonstrations planned this week by activists demanding a transparent investigation into the 31-year-old blogger's was arrested in his village of Kakoth, near the western town of Homa Bay, on 7 June. He was then driven to the main police station in Nairobi, and was reported to have died a few days President William Ruto spoke with Ojiang's father, Meshack Opiyo, following his son's death, the local Daily Nation news site reports."He [Ruto] said: 'I'm sorry,' and we spoke at length. His words were sincere," Opiyo is quoted as promised to give the family two million Kenyan shillings ($15,500; £11,4000) to help cover funeral costs, while veteran opposition politician Raila Odinga, who also spoke to the family, pledged half the amount, the newspaper an initial statement, police said Ojwang was found unconscious in his cell and was rushed to a city hospital, where he succumbed to head injuries allegedly sustained from banging his head against the an autopsy report and an investigation by the police watchdog, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), ruled out the possibility that Ojwang might have killed investigations continue, the head of the police station has been detained, along with another officer and a technician accused of disabling the station's chief Douglas Kanja has apologized for the initial police claim that the blogger died of self-inflicted wounds, saying it was based on "misinformation" from his has called for a swift investigation, and has promised that his government would "protect citizens from rogue police officers".Ruto first pledged to end Kenya's history of police brutality and extrajudicial killings when he came to power in nearly 160 cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances were reported across Kenya last year, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).At least 20 people have died while in police detention in the past four months alone, according to the IPOA. — BBC
