The head of state has urged the clergy to remain factual in their public discourse. This comes after the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) expressed concern over the government’s handling of critical issues like taxation, promises to citizens, and alleged abductions by state security agencies.
During the inaugural graduation ceremony at Tangaza University College, a Catholic institution, Ruto made indirect reference to the recent statements made by the bishops. Although he did not name them directly, his remarks were widely seen as a response to their criticisms. The bishops had earlier warned that the country was veering off course, citing issues like over-taxation and the government’s failure to honor promises made to Kenyans.
“Even as we engage in public discourse on matters that are important to the people of Kenya, we must be careful to be factual, lest we become victims of the things we accuse others of doing,” Ruto remarked, urging the importance of honest and accurate discussions. He continued, “I know what I mean,” a remark that seemed to hint at the ongoing conflict between the government and the clergy.
The bishops had painted a grim picture of the country’s situation, alleging that the government’s failure to meet its promises, especially in the areas of public health and education, was causing severe harm to vulnerable communities. They specifically cited faith-based hospitals, which, according to the bishops, were owed billions of shillings by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). This failure to pay, they argued, was affecting the health sector, with many facilities on the brink of collapse.
In their statement, the bishops also pointed to issues with the country’s education sector, claiming that the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the country’s higher education system were struggling. They criticized the government for what they described as unkept promises, selfish agendas, and misplaced priorities.
In response to these claims, Cabinet Secretaries Julius Migosi (Education) and Debra Barasa (Health) took to the media to downplay the bishops’ accusations. Migosi, in particular, defended the government’s position on CBC, arguing that significant investments had been made to ensure the successful implementation of the program. “The government has, therefore, taken proactive measures and invested heavily to ensure that the noble objectives of CBC are achieved through seamless implementation. This, therefore, can hardly be described as crumbling,” he said.
Barasa, meanwhile, addressed the accusations regarding NHIF debts, terming them “misleading, erroneous, and false.” She emphasized that the government had made substantial progress in settling historical debts. “We are fully committed to clearing the historical debts, and in the past month alone, we mobilized Sh7.58 billion to settle these arrears,” Barasa added, stressing that Sh5.05 billion had already been disbursed to various health providers, including faith-based facilities.
Despite these official rebuttals, the bishops’ statements sparked a wave of reactions from government officials and allies. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot were particularly vocal in their defense of the government. They criticized the bishops for labeling lawmakers as corrupt and challenged them to provide evidence to support such allegations.
Ichung’wah went further, urging the bishops to share any evidence of corruption among legislators with investigative agencies. “Dear Catholic bishops, let us all be honest. If you have any information on corrupt legislators, please furnish information to investigative agencies or just name them and shame them,” he said.
This latest exchange between the government and the Catholic Church highlights the growing tension between the two sides, with both accusing each other of dishonesty and mismanagement. As the country grapples with a myriad of issues, the need for factual and constructive dialogue remains essential. With the government firmly standing by its actions and the clergy calling for greater accountability, it seems this public debate is far from over.
