Church fights for justice and truth as State shies away from criticism

Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairman Maurice Muhatia (seated centre), Bishop Alfred Rotich (left) and Bishop Dominic Kimengich (right) and other bishops during a media briefing in Nairobi, on November 14, 2024. [File, Standard]

The Catholic Church sometimes manifests the Mother Church effect. You do not need to be a Catholic to appreciate its inspired voice. Leaders of other denominations may as well have stood together with the bishops as they read the State of the Nation statement. Its acute content and tone tell of a church that has changed gears and stepped on the accelerator of a bulldozer. The “sleeping lion” has arisen with a roar.

The quick and sharp responses coming from leaders in government make it clear that the State is rattled by the roaring version of the church. The content and tone of government voices that spoke in response showed lack of capacity to respond to an assertive church. The tongue-lashing from the public against the government’s dismissive response to the bishops tells of a government that is struggling with its communication strategy. The ‘sun-roof’ response the government is used to fell flat in this case–it was as if the government was speaking to itself.  The people are with the bishops.

All uniformly dressed up, the bishops delivered their message purposefully. This was not the first time the Catholic leadership was addressing these issues. What was different this time was that they put aside moderation and ‘niceness’. They spoke as leaders in their own right–they have moved from suggesting to instructing. They did not use a theological accent rather, they used the language of the people, which made the masses feel affirmed. The priests affirmed to the people that when they say they are lied to, stolen from, oppressed and attacked, they are not mad! The bishops picked the words of the people and used them to address the State. Word for word, people felt that the priests were their messengers.

One may ask: did the bishops anticipate the dismissive government response? For sure! These are seasoned church leaders who perceive the spiritual warfare their statement would stir. They were ready for a harsh response from the political system. But their speaking was totally within their rights and even more, their prophetic duty. The bishops represent millions of Catholics who receive this statement as their own. This is why a pedestrian response that only addresses the Bishops is myopic. The government’s predictable rush has denied it an opportunity to address the Catholics who form a large chunk of the population. But hasty thinking has made the situation worse because the Catholics now feel their bishops are attacked, which only further hardens their hearts against the anti-Bishops statements. The government does not want Catholics to turn protestant and flood the streets defending their bishops! 

Archbishop Anthony Muheria, apart from being a respected voice in the nation, is dearly loved by his church. The Catholics are irked that some of those who speak for the government have labeled their beloved leader a tribalist. Catholics are very loyal to their denomination–very proud of their distinct traditions, and trust the divine authority of their priests. You may attack their bishops from all sides, but they will passionately protect and defend them. Attacking their beloved bishop is attacking them too. Wisdom calls for the State voices to have a variety of response ‘colour codes’ to match various situations. To have tribalism as the only lens with which to see everything risks messing further the already tattered reputation of the regime.

Archbishop Muheria has built a respected and believable prophetic reputation. To dismiss him as a tribalist or as one playing to the gallery is a display of ignorance and ill-will. Over time, bishops have demonstrated that will not shrink back but stay the path.

The Catholic Church is one of the most intellectual-spiritual institutions in the country. Its bishops are enlightened, endowed, exposed and experienced. They have a tradition of leaning their ministry heavily towards a love for the poor. Given this, its critique of the government should be heard as a voice of compassion for the people. Catholics run great schools, great hospitals, impactful community centers and reverent confessionals. When they comment on education, health, security and lies, they have a context.

If the government would have preferred private audience to being corrected in public, it should not issue a response to the bishops in public. Dismissing the bishops’ statement in public while asking for private audience is hypocritical. Jesus did not have one mode of engaging those he sought to correct–he had both private and public engagements. He was not guided on which mode favoured his targets. He even ‘booked’ some to come see him at night. Jesus did not opt for private audience with hypocrites, blind guides, whitewashed tombs, brood of vipers, foxes and oppressors. He corrected them in public before multitudes. They hated it–but Jesus did it anyway!

Our politicians suffer a prideful condition that processes everything through political lenses. Wisdom calls for a sound spiritual leader’s message to be reflected upon spiritually. Dismissing a prophet’s message by referring to their past failures is shallow. Wisdom says “check with other prophets”. When the message of a Pentecostal pastor like Evangelist Teresia Wairimu rhymes with that of Catholic bishops, search no more. The curious King, instead of blurting out “you are being mean!” asks “What does this mean?” When the church opposes acts of the State, it has not joined the Opposition. The official Opposition is a political institution but opposing government wrongs in the name of God is spiritual. The church joins neither the Opposition nor government; rather, as an agent of God’s light, it calls both to what is right and sets an example in executing it.

The government in its present spirit is hostile to critique and has mastered self-defense. Its observed pattern of response to contrary voices is deny, damn and distract. It has insulated itself to a level where it is even insensitive to deaths attributed to its failures–leaders will not acknowledge responsibility and therefore will not apologise. Families are left to mourn alone and bury their dead as the system moves on. Spiritually speaking, a government that dishonours those who die under its watch has unresolved business with the dead. Like Abel, their blood cries out from the ground and will not be silent until its appeased.