A petition has been filed at the Milimani High Court seeking to stop the construction of a Sh 1.2 billion megachurch allegedly being built at the State House Complex in Nairobi, amid claims of constitutional violations and secrecy.
Levi Munyeri accuses the Presidency of grossly violating constitutional provisions by allowing the construction of the church on public land without parliamentary approval or public participation.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi has directed that the application and petition be served within three days, and responses filed within seven days of service.
A rejoinder, if necessary, is to be filed within seven days thereafter. The case is scheduled for further directions on July 24, 2025.
According to the court documents, the President admitted to the church’s construction on July 4, following an exposé published in the Daily Nation. The petition alleges that the project, which satellite images reportedly show rising near the presidential helipad, is a blatant affront to the doctrine of separation of church and state.
“The construction of a church in public land using private resources without any public participation violates the Constitution’s provisions on public transparency, equality, and non-discrimination,” reads the petition.
The petitioner warns that the continued construction poses an “eminent risk of gross dilution” of constitutional safeguards and could fuel religious tensions in the country.
Munyeri is now seeking urgent conservatory orders to stop the project, warning that the presidency may tamper with evidence or fast-track the church’s completion before the court rules on the legality of the construction.
If the court grants the conservatory orders, the high-profile project could face a significant legal roadblock in the coming weeks.
