The High Court has scheduled a hearing on July 24 for a case that seeks to stop the construction of a Ksh 1.2 billion church within the State House premises. This decision follows a petition filed by advocate Levy Munyeri, who wants the project suspended.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi, while certifying the petition as urgent, ordered that the petition be submitted physically within three days. He also directed that all parties involved should file their responses within seven days.
The petition, filed by Munyeri who is a practicing advocate of the High Court, seeks immediate orders to halt the ongoing construction. He expressed strong hope that the judiciary will deliver justice to those who are against the project.
“In Constitutional Petition No. HCCHRPET/E421/2025, the High Court has recognized the urgency of my application challenging the church construction project at State House, Nairobi. The court has set July 24, 2025, for further directions,” Munyeri announced in a brief statement.
He went on to assert firmly, “The construction is going nowhere.”
In his petition, Munyeri argued that the project, which is being pushed by President William Ruto, violates the Kenyan Constitution. He claimed the entire initiative has been conducted in secrecy and without transparency.
He further pointed out that State House is public property, and such a significant decision could not be made without meaningful public participation. Munyeri emphasized that Parliament was not involved in approving the plan, and this alone undermines the rule of law.
He also asked the court to issue conservatory orders that would temporarily suspend any further construction activity until the petition is fully heard and determined.
According to documents presented to the court and reports seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the construction appears to have already started, with satellite imagery confirming visible development at the site.
On the political front, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, a vocal critic of the current administration, strongly condemned the church project earlier in the week.
In an open letter addressed to President Ruto, Omtatah criticized the plan, saying it amounts to an attempt to impose Christianity as the official State religion, which goes against the principles of the Constitution.
The senator added that since State House is a public asset, the President has no authority to undertake such a massive project without consulting the public. He insisted that the move lacked proper stakeholder engagement and had bypassed critical legal processes.
Despite the legal challenges and mounting opposition, President Ruto has remained firm on his stand. On several occasions, he has reiterated that the construction of the mega-church will proceed as scheduled and that he will not be swayed by criticism or opposition.
As the case heads to court later this month, the issue continues to spark national debate over constitutional rights, public participation, and the separation between religion and state affairs in Kenya.
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