How church is becoming new thorn in Kenya Kwanza flesh

The church is slowly emerging as the new thorn in the flesh of President William Ruto’s administration.

Once the darling of the state, churches have now positioned themselves as the conscience of society taking over the role traditionally played by opposition.

The move has put it at odds with the current regime.

Just two years ago, when it was ascending to power, Kenya Kwanza benefited from support of religious groups, including the Catholic Church.

This has, however, changed with the faith-based organisations, led by Catholic bishops, launching sustained and coordinated attacks against the government.

The Catholic, Anglican Church of Kenya, Akorino, Presbyterian, National Council of Churches of Kenya and Evangelical Formations of Kenya recently took the lead in pointing out ills in Ruto’s administration.

In a strongly-worded statement, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops accused the government of relying on brutal repression to silence critics, saying the administration thrives on halftruths and outright lies.

“It seems truth does not exist, and if it does, it is only what the government says,” the bishops said.

They urged Kenyans to reject the lies perpetuated by politicians.

The bishops cited cases of abductions and forceful disappearances that followed the youth-led anti-tax demonstrations.

“Who is abducting these people and is the government unable to stop these abductions and killings?” they asked. Governance expert Daniel Orogo while unconvinced that the church has taken opposition role, acknowledged the church, as an institution, has reclaimed its space in voicing critical views.

 “The role of the opposition is quite huge and demanding, it requires strategic political positioning that requires the presence of parties both in the house of representatives (Parliament) and organising for advocacy and protests in the streets,” Orogo said.

“The current churches are not in a position to do that.”

To demonstrate that there is no love lost, KCCB declined Sh5.6 million donations by the President towards the completion of a priest’s house at Soweto Catholic Church and support for the church choir. Taking the cue, Anglican Church of Kenya also voiced support for the Catholic bishops.

 “We believe the government is yet to turn around the country and steer it in the right direction. Calling church leaders names or dismissing the bishops’ statement as misleading, erroneous and false, is itself dishonest,” Jackson Ole Sapit said.

“The bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth as things are on the ground.No amount of attacks or intimidation will deter the church from calling out evil and speaking the truth to power.”

Pentecostal and Evangelical Formations in Kenya too joined in bashing the government in what they described as a deteriorating state of affairs.

In a statement signed by 34 clerics led by Bishop Stephen Ndichu, the Evangelical churches praised Catholic bishops for calling out the government.

“The church, the Pentecostal movement included, will henceforth play its significant role of pointing out the wrongs the government is committing without fear or favour,” Ndichu said.

This was followed by a stinging criticism from clerics from Nyanza who even threatened to stage civil unrest against the administration.

“The nation has witnessed the worst cases of oppression in recent times, some orchestrated through commercialisation of political leadership,” said Bishop Mark Godia of Anglican Church of Kenya Maseno West Diocese.

The church position has however triggered mixed reactions from the political class with leaders divided on whether the criticism is justified.

While some opposition MPs endorsed the church’s stance, proRuto lawmakers on the other hand dismissed the attacks as politically motivated.

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi rebuked the clerics for failing to highlight the government’s successes.

“Some of you (clerics) in your positions of authority are against the good work we are doing. In some churches, congregants have fled due to weekly contributions that have become a burden,” he said.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino praised the church’s courage to challenge the administration, urging the government to take criticism positively