The Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM) and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) have jointly voiced sharp criticism of Kenya’s political leadership, citing widespread public disillusionment. Both bodies expressed their views during separate public addresses this week, calling for urgent reforms to restore faith in governance and constitutional processes.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Thursday, SUPKEM Chairperson Al Hajj Hassan Ole Naado said that Kenyans have lost trust in their leaders, accusing the political class of failing to represent the people’s interests. Naado noted that this discontent stems from systemic issues within Kenya’s political framework, including dysfunctional institutions and self-serving politicians.
“If today we had a functional Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the number of MPs who would be in line to be recalled would be historically very high,” Naado remarked. He argued that the absence of a fully operational electoral body has hindered Kenyans from exercising their democratic right to hold leaders accountable.
Naado also pointed out two key issues compounding Kenya’s political challenges: the dominance of party politics and the financial burden of campaigning. He observed that many leaders win elections solely because they run under popular political parties, often disregarding their qualifications or integrity.
“The cost of campaigns has made political leadership in Kenya prohibitively expensive,” he added, explaining that once elected, leaders prioritize recouping their investments rather than serving the electorate.
This focus on personal gain has, Naado claimed, led to a disconnect between leaders and citizens, making it impossible to predict politicians’ loyalties or positions on critical issues. Despite these challenges, he lauded the Constitution for providing tools to counter such systemic problems and praised Generation Z for their boldness in demanding accountability from the government.
Similarly, NCCK Chairperson Rev. Elias Otieno Agola criticized the Parliament for abandoning its role as the voice of the people. Speaking on the same day, Rev. Agola argued that Parliament has become an extension of the Executive, passing oppressive laws instead of providing oversight.
“The reforms being introduced by the National Assembly should be people-friendly and fully understood by those they affect,” Agola said, urging legislators to prioritize their constitutional mandate over political expediency.
Agola also touched on the controversial issue of church donations by politicians, emphasizing the NCCK’s stance against the use of monetary contributions to advance political ambitions.
“Let them come, worship, and if they wish to donate money, let it be like any other member of the congregation. Using money to market yourself will not be entertained,” he affirmed.
Both SUPKEM and NCCK also addressed the role of the public in Kenya’s governance crisis, urging citizens to exercise caution when assessing political narratives. The NCCK attributed much of Kenya’s challenges to the public’s tendency to believe misleading rhetoric from politicians.
“These narratives are often premised on lies and falsehoods,” NCCK said in a statement, calling on Kenyans to verify claims and seek the truth before aligning themselves with political agendas.
The councils collectively criticized MPs for passing laws they described as oppressive and disconnected from public welfare. “Instead of speaking for the people, they are making oppressive laws. This state is unsustainable,” the NCCK said.
As disillusionment grows, SUPKEM and NCCK’s calls for accountability, institutional reforms, and citizen vigilance underline a pressing need for transformative leadership in Kenya. Whether the political class will heed these calls remains to be seen, but public demand for change continues to intensify.
