Kenyan President William Ruto plans to build a church on the grounds of his official residence at his own expense, causing consternation in the East African country.

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

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

At a meeting with local politicians, Ruto confirmed the construction plans and dismissed the criticism, stating that he would pay for the construction out of his own pocket.

Reports suggest that the church could cost up to 1.2 billion Kenyan shillings ($9.3 million).

Ruto, who describes himself as a devout Christian, did not provide any details about the construction costs.

There was significant criticism of the project on social media, with many pointing to the state of schools and hospitals that are in more urgent need of financial support.

Other critics have constitutional concerns, as the Kenyan constitution does not provide for a state religion and the country is multireligious, with a variety of Christian denominations, a Muslim population of just over 10%, and a large Hindu minority.

It is also questionable whether the construction will benefit Ruto at all, with presidential elections due in Kenya in two years.