No doubt, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) means well. Its excoriation of President William Ruto’s administration is done with good intentions. But an aphorism to the effect that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” is not altogether inappropriate. Not for the first time, noble minds have started national conversations that have wounded more than healed; that have widened the fissures of political differences in the country when the intention was to heal rifts that have characterised multi-party politics from inception.
It is obvious to all and sundry that Kenya is riven into two distinct political formations: The ruling party and those who support them and the opposition with attendant subscribers to their tenets. It is therefore almost impossible for many Kenyans to take the middle ground or to see beyond the dichotomy of “us versus them”. It follows therefore that anyone intending to offer constructive criticism to the government must take the high road. Such criticism must be contingent on compelling facts rather than emotional outbursts characteristic of post-truth populism. Sadly, KCCB’s recent criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration in a media briefing on the state of the nation falls short in some instances.
First, the good bishops criticise the government for “unreasonable taxation” through what they call “a constant stream of new taxes.” They fail to appreciate the fact that these tax measures, currently being subjected to public participation, are an extraordinary response to extraordinary times. Navigating a tough economic environment is a global issue, not just a Kenyan one. Countries that have taken the populist route of lowering taxes and interest rates have paid dearly for it in recent times.
Sri Lanka followed a fiscal policy of reduced taxation and subsidies on petroleum products and food prices. It defaulted on its sovereign debt resulting in social, economic and political upheaval. Turkey’s Central Bank took on a monetary policy that eased rather than tightened as should have been the case. Inflation reached a decades-high level of 85.5 per cent in October 2022. Closer home, Malawi, Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia have defaulted on their sovereign debt. This has led to renegotiations of loans with lenders with grave ramifications to the citizens of those countries. Kenyans are feeling the pinch at the moment but it is nothing compared to the fate that has befallen other nations.
Second, the KCCB statement reveals an economy of truth that could pass for sophism. This is seen when the bishops allege that “faith-based organisations are owed billions in dues by the government,” a situation they have claimed to have “addressed constantly even with the President, to no avail.” These statements are negated by the government’s response. The Health Ministry has clarified that the defunct “National Health Insurance Fund owed hospitals Sh9 billion out of which Sh7.58 billion had been mobilised in the last month to pay the debts.”
As these and other gaps in the KCCB statement are revealed, a question arises: Did the bishops do their due diligence before their press conference or were they simply regurgitating the country’s political opposition’s spiel? It would serve authority figures well, especially revered clergymen, to be more circumspect about their public utterances.
Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst
