Catholic bishops slam Ruto over killings, high taxes and corruption

 

Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairman Maurice Muhatia flanked by other bishops during a media briefing on the state of the Nation held in Nairobi on November 14, 2024. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

The Catholic church yesterday condemned President William Ruto’s administration over unexplained killings, abductions, widespread corruption, and a growing culture of deception.

In a pointed statement, the bishops, through the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), criticised the government for fostering an environment where citizens have become accustomed to the lies propagated by politicians.

“Kenyans must learn not to applaud or validate the lies that politicians tell them, but rather must resolve to seek and be led by the truth,” said Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Eldoret Catholic Diocese, reading the KCCB’s statement.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, the bishops directed their frustrations at elected leaders, accusing them of “heightened insensitivity and irresponsibility” in their roles and claiming they have been “captured and compromised in corrupt deals.”

“Corruption may not always involve financial gain but can also mean the unjust use of position and authority or abuse of office. The massive greed we are witnessing is shocking and heartbreaking,” said KCCB Chairperson Maurice Muhatia. He noted that Kenyan legislators are among the highest-paid in the world.

 The bishops also decried the increasing incidents of killings, abductions, and disappearances, particularly the murder of women. “This has caused great consternation, anger, and disgust. Many families are still grappling with the loss of their children who were brutally killed, injured, or went missing following Gen Z demonstrations in June 2024,” they said.

“Who is abducting these people, and is the government unable to stop these abductions and killings? The government must protect the life of every human person in Kenya. It must uphold the law, which its leaders swore to protect,” the bishops added.

 Issues of concern

They also criticised the government for what they called “unreasonable taxation,” accusing the Ruto administration of reintroducing the rejected Finance Bill 2024 through a “constant stream of new taxes.”

“It seems to be a hidden way of reintroducing the rejected Finance Bill 2024. We must listen keenly to the cries of the Kenyan people. The current tax regime is already prohibitive and burdensome,” the bishops stated.

The bishops further raised concerns about political infighting within the government, which they claimed has heightened tensions and deepened divisions among Kenyans, creating an environment of mistrust both among citizens and within the government itself.

In response to the proposed extension of term limits for elected leaders, the bishops called it a “selfish agenda,” suspecting there are plans to rush the proposal through the legislative process. “We need to critically scrutinize this political move. We question the motivations behind this agenda and the long-term interests it serves. We strongly condemn this retrogressive and manipulative thinking,” Bishop Kimengich said.

Instead, the bishops urged the government to focus on pressing issues, such as the troubled Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) education system, healthcare services, reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the high rate of youth unemployment, and widespread corruption.

“When the government fails to fulfill its promises, particularly concerning payments to essential service providers, it harms vulnerable communities,” the bishops warned, adding that despite the country’s current calm, Kenyans are losing faith in the government.

Other issues the bishops highlighted included increased fees for missionary work permits.

“We believe genuine consultation with all stakeholders is necessary on these matters, beyond the token public participation currently offered. This culture of lies, unkept promises, and misplaced priorities is unacceptable and needs to be addressed,” they stated.

The bishops’ criticisms come amid a rift within the religious community; while some evangelical branches support the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) administration, mainstream churches have frequently called out the government’s actions.

Pro-government figures quickly responded to the KCCB’s statement. Kapseret MP and Ruto ally Oscar Sudi took to social media, writing, “It is dumbfounding to see Archbishop Antony Muheria preaching the gospel on one hand and fanning tribalism on the other. Muheria lacks the moral authority to criticise the current regime because he is on record for backing the previous regime, even when it was clear it had failed Kenyans.”

A blogger, Gideon Kitheka, wrote on X, “The KCCB bishops led by Muheria are irresponsibly peddling falsehoods and undermining national progress. Their baseless accusations against Ruto’s administration are shameful and unpatriotic. The government is performing admirably, and these divisive tactics must stop.”

The bishops’ statement came a day after Azimio leaders, led by Wiper Party chief Kalonzo Musyoka, accused the government of failing to compensate families who lost loved ones due to police brutality during recent protests.