The church must maintain front line in critising government

President William Ruto and Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria during the Consecration and Installation of Bishop Peter Kimani Ndung'u, in Embu County. With them is Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire. [PCS]

There is a saying in the religious sector that “Be wary of what a priest says, even when drunk.” This speaks to the potency of the spiritual world.

It implies that a priest is endowed with a unique capacity – a deposit from the divine which is not resident in everyone but an ordained few.

It also implies that apart from a specific, intentional invocation of the spiritual power, there is a residual power that exists in a God-chosen priest that is beyond their consciences. Even when they are out of form, tired and even fallen, this residual power is still effective.

That is why a priest will serve Holy Communion in a hurry – but the hurry will not affect the effectiveness of the Lord’s Table – it will still settle in the hearts of the people as God intends it - unhurriedly.

The broad-based government has been renamed differently to illustrate how the people perceive it. Some have called it the “blood-based” government, to imply the deaths that have occurred to preserve it. 

Others have called it “flaw-faced” government to imply the blunders it has been making since it took power. Others are calling it “abroad-based” imply the way they listen more to wealthy external powers rather than their own people.

Case in point is the Adani deals cancellation. While this cancelation has been tweaked to sell a narrative of a “listening president,” Kenyans have asked, “Listening to who?”

Citizens spoke in the city and social media streets – some even died – as they protested the Adani Group’s entrance into Kenya. But they we ignored and their passion for integrity dismissed.

It had to take external pressure that frightened the State since Adani continuity would jeopardize Nairobi’s relationship with New York – and the favors that come with it. 

If only this "clever" people would have listened to their citizens! The president would have scored a big one had he redirected the standing ovation accorded him in parliament to the people of Kenya – they are the real Adani busters.

The government has not been on the same page with its citizens – but it insists on its own path. People prefer a less antagonizing approach. This broken relationship with the masses has filtered into conflicts with different sectors -teachers, doctors, nurses, university students, and university lecturers. 

Recently, it has taken on the priests as well! The people’s trust level for the church has increased recently. 

The church has  demonstrated boldness as it spoke truth to power. In a context of abductions and summons, the boldness of the church was more appreciated.

The government is seen to insulate itself against criticism by injecting fear in the people. The church has not shrunk back and people feel covered and spoken for.

Before we hastily give the church leaders a standing ovation, let us be reminded that by standing for the people the church is not going out of its way, it is doing what it exists to do.

(Center front) Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairman Maurice Muhatia flanked by (left front) Bishop of Kericho Catholic Diocese Alfred Rotich and (right front) Bishop of Eldoret Catholic Diocese Dominic Kimengich while accompanied by other bishops during a media briefing on the state of the Nation held in Nairobi on November 14, 2024. [Benard Orwongo Standard]

The question to ask will be “Where have you been?” The church sometimes makes the humility mistake of working in the background and keeping its works to itself.

While modesty is a virtue, silence is not. There is a dimension of the church that needs to be continually on the frontline.

For a season, the church has been on the headlines for all the bad reasons. It is time to reclaim the right frontline mission.

The church generated some strong waves this last week that have hit the shore with a noticeable force. The wave-effect is real - the political reaction affirms it.

The unrehearsed lackluster responses from politicians tell of an uncommon trouble. To the system, the church was a silenced deal whose voice was at a containable threshold.

But something new has come upon the Catholic Bishops this time round. They called the government names used by people in the street, a popular one being “a government of lies.” The bishops did not plead or propose reforms - they instructed them. 

This resonated very well with the people. The Catholic “Mother Church” effect spread throughout the religious sector, with leaders of other denominations affirming the bishops’ statement. Even Muslims lauded it.

Money has been the standard method politicians use to win over the church. But this time, the Catholic church rejected both the money given and the money promised.  This is a new action because previously, politicians have been denied the opportunity to speak in church, but their money has not been rejected.

The political saying then has been, “If you do not want us to speak, then why do you want our money?” The rejection of the president’s donation brought in a double rejection – a rejection of political speeches and political donations. The church maintained that politicians are welcome as worshipers, but not as crusaders. 

From right Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairman Maurice Muhatia with Bishop of Kericho Catholic Diocese Alfred Rotich during a media briefing on the state of the Nation held in Nairobi on November 14, 2024. [Benard Orwongo Standard]

This rocked the political system – and the wonder in the air is whether this double rejection with catch on and live on. If it does, the relationship between the church and the state would have been revised significantly to the advantage of the church.

The church has struggled with continuous public attacks of being helpless and powerless before politicians, which hampers its ability to position itself as a voice for the people. It was an error for the church to be politician-dependent in the first place.

What the Catholic Church has done should mark the beginning of an internal purification of Kenya's church from Mammon shackles. The church will miss the political bundles but will do just fine.

The concern is how the church plans to sustain the pressure on the state. The church has no choice but keep going. It is in the business of salvation. It lives in the realm of “Do not be afraid…”

The bishops and their Christians must pay the price it takes to restore sobriety. They cannot fail – how can they? If the church retreats, what will be said of its substance?

The young people have called on the church to come to the frontline – some have paid the call with their lives.  Now the church has arrived where it always belongs – the frontline.

For the church, the frontline is not only a position, it is home. Spiritually speaking, we are not dealing with ordinary demons here- we are dealing with what Jesus isolated and described as "This kind..."

The church should not expect an immediate exorcism - it must prepare for stubborn demons that talk back, and cause convulsions. 

From the responses of some politicians, evil has layered itself over time, making Kenya’s exorcism exercise take a little longer than citizens may desire and anticipate.

To move faster, we need the combined power of Catholics with their cross and Pentecostals with their tongues! Mainstreamers will confirm the departure of the spirits. This spiritual unity will bring a victory that is celebrated even in mosques and temples.