Kenya President plans to build a sprawling church in his official residence

Kenyan President William Ruto was shocked by plans to build a church on the grounds of his official residence in East Africa at his own expense.

The criticism stems from the fact that Kenya’s constitution requires separation of the church from the state.

According to media reports, Ruto's place of worship is expected to accommodate up to 8,000 people.

In a meeting with local politicians, Ruto confirmed the construction plan and dismissed the criticism, noting that he would pay for construction from his pocket.

The report shows that the cost of the church could be as high as 1.2 billion Kenyan shillings (9.3 million US dollars).

Ruto, who describes himself as a devout Christian, offers no details about the cost of construction.

The project has received significant criticism on social media, with many pointing out the situation of schools and hospitals that need more financial support.

Other critics have also attracted the attention of the constitution because the Kenyan constitution does not stipulate the state religion and the country is of multiple religious beliefs, with a variety of Christian denominations, the Muslim population just over 10% and the Hindu minority.

It is also doubtful whether this construction will benefit Ruto, with a presidential election held in Kenya within two years.