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The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Thursday publicly criticized President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of fostering a “deeply entrenched culture of lies, corruption, unfulfilled promises, and misplaced priorities.” Led by Archbishop Maurice Muhatia of Kisumu, the bishops voiced their frustration over the government’s failure to address critical issues affecting ordinary Kenyans.
Archbishop Muhatia spearheaded the denunciation. He pointed out several key areas where the administration has fallen short. The bishops pointed to rising taxation, rampant youth unemployment, significant gaps in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in education, and the problematic transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“We have made clear statements many times in the recent past, with very little response from the government. Despite the calmness we are experiencing, there is a lot of anxiety and most people are losing trust in the government,” Muhatia stated.
Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Eldoret echoed these sentiments, emphasizing unresolved issues such as the overtaxation of Kenyans, the increase in missionary work permits, and the delays in university loan schemes. “The failure to constitute the IEBC… this culture of lies, unkept promises, and misplaced priorities is unacceptable and needs to be dealt with,” Kimengich said.
A significant point of contention is the government’s handling of healthcare financing. The bishops accused the Ruto administration of reneging on its promise to clear billions of shillings owed to faith-based hospitals under the defunct NHIF. This financial shortfall threatens the sustainability of critical healthcare services provided by institutions many of which are run by the Catholic Church.
“The shift to SHA has serious challenges. Kenyans are suffering across hospitals… etc,” Muhatia said.
The bishops also condemned local politicians for engaging in self-serving political maneuvers that, according to them, risk fragmenting the nation. They criticized the introduction of a bill proposing to extend the presidential term from five to seven years, questioning the motivations behind such a move.
“We need to critically scrutinize this political move. We question the motivations behind this agenda and the long-term interests it serves,” Kimengich added, stressing the potential negative impact on national unity.
They also addressed the growing concerns over national security. The bishops lambasted the government for its inadequate response to abductions, disappearances, and killings. “Who is abducting these people? And is the government unable to stop these abductions and killings?” Muhatia questioned.
Government’s Strong Rebuttal
In response to the KCCB’s accusations, government officials swiftly countered the claims, labeling them as “erroneous and misleading.” Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa refuted the allegations regarding unpaid debts to faith-based hospitals. She clarified that the government had set aside Ksh.7.58 billion to address the Ksh.19 billion debt owed by the defunct NHIF.
Dr. Barasa detailed that Ksh.938 million had already been disbursed to Catholic Church-run hospitals, with an additional Ksh.2.5 billion expected next week. “The Government takes great exception to the misleading, erroneous and false statement issued by Catholic Church Bishops on obligations owed by the Government through the defunct NHIF,” Barasa stated.
Education Cabinet Secretary Migosi Ogamba defended the administration’s handling of the CBC and the new Student-Centered Funding Model. He highlighted the significant investments made to stabilize public universities, which had been burdened with debts totaling Ksh.70 billion. “The introduction of the Student-Centred Funding Model followed recommendations by the Working Party. Since it was rolled out in 2023, the model has eased the financial burden in universities,” Ogamba explained.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also responded, outlining the police force’s efforts to combat insecurity. He reported that 1,552 arrests had been made in connection with recent anti-government protests and that specialized units were actively investigating cases of abductions and femicides. “We have effectively investigated, identified the culprits and arraigned them before the court,” Kanja said.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot criticized the bishops for making broad generalizations. “It is unfortunate that religious leaders are resorting to sweeping generalities. If they have an issue with an individual leader, they should seek redress through the relevant constitutional agencies instead of condemning the entire legislature,” Cheruiyot remarked.
Similarly, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah accused the KCCB of political bias, stating, “The drafter of this statement is portraying you either as liars or as politically partisan people seeking to play to a political gallery.”
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