A day after the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops censured the government over taxation and alleged failure to implement the promises made to Kenyans, President William Ruto on Friday fired back at the clergy asking them to be factual.
Ruto, who graced the inaugural graduation ceremony of the Tangaza University, an institution owned by the Catholic Church, emphasised the need to state the facts as they are.
Though he did not make a direct reference to the Bishops, Ruto's remarks came on the back of fierce criticism from the clergy who faulted the government for what they described as " telling lies".
"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... I know you I know what I mean," Ruto said.
The Catholic Church Thursday warned that the country was heading in the wrong direction and called for an end to the raging abductions allegedly by the state security agencies.
While acknowledging that the government can only raise its revenue through taxes, the bishops regretted that the citizenry are being overtaxed.
They also told the government to fulfill its promises especially on payments to essential service providers as it has continued to harm vulnerable communities.
They cited the neglect of faith-based hospitals which they said is now owed billions in dues by NHIF.
“This is an issue we have addressed constantly even with the president,” KCCB said.
The remarks by the Catholic bishops sparked massive reactions from Government officials and leaders affiliated with the regime who moved with speed to downplay the criticism from the clergy.
Cabinet Secretaries for Education (Julius Migosi) and Health (Debra Barasa) issued statements to clarify the clerics' claims.
In his response, Migosi denied the bishops' claims that the country’s education sector is in crisis and on the verge of collapse.
The CS said that the Education sector; particularly the Competency-Based Curriculum and higher education funding are working perfectly.
"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,” Migosi said.
The bishops had said the sector is in disarray as leaders ravel themselves in “selfish agenda, lies, unkept promises and misplaced priorities”.
CS Barasa refuted claims by the bishops that the government’s signature public health insurance, SHIF, is in tatters because faith-based organisations are owed billions.
In a statement on Thursday, Barasa termed the allegations "misleading, erroneous, and false," stressing the government's commitment to addressing outstanding debts from the defunct NHIF.
"We are fully committed to clearing the historical debts, and in the past month alone, we mobilised Sh7.58 billion to settle these arrears," she said, adding that Sh5.05 billion had already been disbursed to various health providers, including Sh938 million to faith-based facilities,’’ she said.
In a statement on Thursday, Barasa termed the allegations "misleading, erroneous, and false," stressing the government's commitment to addressing outstanding debts from the defunct NHIF.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and his Senate Counterpart Aaron Cheruiyot went for the jugular, telling off the bishops on their criticism of the government.
The MPs have hit back at Catholic bishops for labelling them as corrupt and challenged the clerics to submit evidence against them to 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,” Ichung’wah said.
