Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has reassured Christian religious organisations that they will be no blanket condemnation from the State.
He said that what happened in Kilifi where more than 100 people died and were buried in shallow graves was unacceptable but will not be used for wholesale condemnation of the Church.
The DP said criminals will be dealt with as criminals and the government would not allow the likes of Pastor Paul Makenzie to hide behind the pulpit.
"The Church is a reflection of the society, there are criminal elements in every society and that applies to churches too," he said.
Speaking during the consecration and installation of the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru Bishop, Cleophas Oseso at Nakuru Boys High School, the DP observed that only a small percentage of churches and church leaders were criminals.
Nakuru Catholic Diocese comprises of Nakuru and Baringo Counties.
Gachagua was responding to Archbishop of Mombasa Archdiocese, Martin Kivuva, who had cautioned the government and politicians against demonising the church because of a criminal individual.
The Archbishop observed that Mackenzie's Good News International Church has been operating for more than 20 years without action from the government.
Kivuva, who is also the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops chairman, prayed and consoled the families whose relatives have either died or gone missing in Shakahola.
On the ongoing stalemate between the government and Azimio la Umoja Kenya One Alliance, Gachagua said the State was open to dialogue.
"President William Ruto has been very accommodating to the Azimio la Umoja team but they keep shifting goals, at one point they were ready for the talks before opting to go back to the streets," he said.
He added that their opponents' concerns would be addressed through Parliament only if they were legal.
"Their demands should be within the law and Kenya Kwanza MPs are ready to talk to them once they are decided, in the meanwhile me and President Ruto are busy serving the nation," he said
The DP appealed to the Church to help the government in the fight against drug and alcohol abuse especially among the youth.
Gachagua, who was accompanied by Lands Cabinet Secretary Zack Njeru, Lands Chief Administrative Secretary, Kimani Ngunjiri and a host of MPs, noted that Nakuru was on the verge of losing an entire generation to drugs and alcohol abuse.
"I will be coming to Nakuru to address the drugs issue and it is my appeal that the church helps the government in this fight by mentoring the youth," he said.
He finalised by saying that the current administration was willing to support the church in infrastructure building although the Catholic church had capped their contribution at Sh50,000.
"We obeyed what the church told us on the issue of monetary contribution. We cannot argue with our spiritual fathers but we still know that there is a lot of work that requires financial assistance," he said.
All the Catholic bishops countrywide were either present or represented during the colourful event.
Other leaders present were Nakuru Deputy Governor, David Kones, former Nakuru Governor, Lee Kinyanjui and Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi.
