Catholic bishops slam Ruto government: 'Culture of lies, abductions must stop'
Archbishop Maurice Muhatia (seated center) along with other members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops at Clergy Home, Queen of Apostle Mission Parish, along Thika Road on November 14, 2024.
A Catholic bishops’ lobby has accused the government of President William Ruto of perpetuating “a culture of lies” and using the State machinery to silence critics.
The Chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Archbishop Maurice Muhatia, on Thursday led the bishops in calling out the Kenya Kwanza regime for failing to keep its election pledges, failing to listen to cries of ordinary people, and clawing back on Kenya’s democratic gains.
The church leaders openly criticised Dr Ruto and his entire leadership, with Archbishop Muhatia saying a huge number of Kenyans no longer trust the government they voted in two years ago.
“The culture of lies is swiftly replacing the integrity and respect that Kenyans deserve. Basically, it seems that truth does not exist, and if it does, it is only what the government says,” Archibishop Muhatia said.
“Unfortunately, it seems that the Kenyans have helplessly tolerated the lies told to them constantly by the politicians. Kenyans must learn not to applaud or validate the lies that the politicians tell them, but rather must resolve to seek and be led by the truth.”
The bishops raised concern over Kenya Kwanza’s economic and political policies, and how the country is being governed. They took issue with the introduction of the Tax Amendment Bill 2024, which they said was in many ways the reintroduction of Finance Bill 2024 through the back door.
'Unreasonably over-taxed'
Archbishop Maurice Muhatia (left) along with other members of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops at Clergy Home, Queen of Apostle Mission Parish, along Thika Road on November 14, 2024.
The proposed law that sparked youth-led anti-Finance Bill protests in June, which nearly brought down Ruto's regime, was rejected by Kenyans due to punitive tax proposals.
The clergy warned that continued introduction of new taxes smacked of over-taxation by the government, and that the new levies were creating an unhealthy environment for businesses and stifling the economy.
“Our problem is that Kenyans are being unreasonably overtaxed. We are vehemently concerned by the continued myriad of new tax regimes that are constantly emerging from day to day,” the bishops said in the statement.
“It seems to be a hidden way of reintroducing the rejected Finance Bill 2024. We must listen keenly to the cry of the Kenyan people. The current tax regime is already prohibitive and burdensome.”
The clergy said they were alarmed by Kenya’s deteriorating human rights record under the current regime, and demanded a stop to the ongoing abductions and enforced disappearances of government critics.
They demanded answers from the government on who has been abducting innocent youth who are expressing themselves through social media and on the streets.
