- The bishops explained that the high cost of living has deeply affected and shaken the social fabric of Kenyan society.
- The bishops explained that the high cost of living has deeply affected and shaken the social fabric of Kenyan society.
Image: DOUGLAS OKIDDY
Religious leaders have moved to implore the government to address various concerns to make the lives of ordinary citizens better.
On Friday, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops tabled five key areas that the President William Ruto-led administration should address immediately.
The five include over-taxation, challenges in the education system, the high cost of living, protecting the dignity of Kenyan people and unemployment.
Concerning unemployment, the bishop in a statement noted that most youths are jobless.
"We decry the obvious corruption within the public sector, whereby tribalisms and discrimination seem to dictate the chances of employment," reads the statement.
As a result, the Bishops appealed to the state for a more transparent and fair process of employment especially in public offices.
The high cost of living was also mentioned as a priority issue that should be looked into.
The bishops explained that the high cost of living has deeply affected and shaken the social fabric of Kenyan society.
"Families are under immense stress as they struggle to make ends meet, leading to strained relationships and increased tensions within households," they said.
“Parents find it challenging to provide for their Children’s education, healthcare and overall well-being,” reads the statement further.
The Bishops urged the government to conduct wider consultations and discussions among themselves and other stakeholders, to review and study ways we can address and mitigate the high cost of living.
The Bishops further stated that in as much as conflicts in the Middle East have affected the cost of petroleum, the state should refrain from over-taxing Kenyans.
"We are aware that part of the cause of this rise in the cost of living, has been due to external factors like the cost of petroleum, and the effects of the Ukranian and Middle East conflicts," the Bishops said.
The Catholic Bishops appealed to the Kenya Kwanza government to find a reasonable balance between the desired income for the government and the minimum protection of the basic needs of the very ordinary Kenyan, and respect for their dignity.
They also want the state to reconsider the issue of over-taxation, especially of those in the lower in the come bracket.
"Many traders and businesses are now faced with the option of closure or laying off employees due to the immense drain on their resources and add tax burdens," reads the statement further.
On protecting the dignity of every Kenyan, the Bishops commented on the debate surrounding the proposed digital identification
According to the Bishops, the matter needed clarification and public participation before any implementation.
“From what we gather, it targets an element of a violation of the human person, through the use of certain new technology,” the Bishop said.
They are concerned that a process that involves any insertion of microchips or other digital elements, especially in newborns, is unacceptable because it would compromise the inviolable dignity of the recipients.
Kenyans from across the country have raised concerns about the high cost of living.
This is despite a promise by the President to ease the tax burden and the cost of living
President Ruto in his State of the Nation address said that Kenya has been living large and way above her means, a situation that must change.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Ruto said the country must admit that it has been living beyond its means.
"We must admit that as a country we had been living large and way beyond our means. The time has come to retire the false comforts," he said.
At least 100,000 more borrowers joined Safaricom's overdraft facility, Fuliza in the face of a tough economy to meet basic needs.
According to the telco's financial results for the first six months to September 30, Fuliza subscribers rose to 7.5 million from 7.4 million a year ago.
Even so, the average loan size taken dropped by Sh60 in value to Sh260 from Sh320.90, impacting the product's contribution to the firm's overall revenue.