A section of religious leaders from Nyanza region have now threatened to mobilise citizens for civil disobedience, including a refusal to pay taxes, in protest of what they describe as growing oppression and mismanagement under President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration.
Clergy from the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) accused the government of oppression and “commercialising political leadership” through the creation of a broad-based government.
Led by Bishop David Kodia of Bondo Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), they say the current administration is designed to serve the political elite at the expense of ordinary Kenyans. They also lamented that opposition voices have been silenced in Nyanza region.
“Refusing to pay taxes will starve all arms of the government of funds that it uses to intimidate the people of Kenya,” said Bishop Kodia.
They expressed frustration over rising economic hardships, including escalating taxes, high cost of living and unresolved national issues, which they argue are eroding public trust in the Kenya Kwanza government.
“Kenyans need to be respected, not subjected to fear of reprisal for their divergent views,” he said during a joint media briefing at ACK St Stephens Cathedral in Kisumu.
'We will be voice of opposition'
Due to what they term as the absence of a strong opposition, the religious leaders have also vowed to offer an alternative voice that will keep the government in check.
“Today, no single political leader from this region has the courage to point out these injustices. They are all comfortable because all appears well with ODM leader Raila Odinga,” their statement said in part.
“Kenya has virtually receded to one-party totalitarianism...We are yet to see the implementation of the things the president promised after the Gen Z protests. This systematic degradation of our devolution must be resisted,” he said.
"Sweet talk annoys Kenyans more than anything else, especially when it is laced with hollow promises."
Judiciary 'should do more'
Meanwhile, Bishop of ACK Maseno South Charles Onginjo also hit at the Judiciary.
“The courts have not been strong enough to pronounce themselves on the reckless abductions and extra-judicial killings of citizens,” said the cleric.
In their eight-point demand, the religious leaders called on the government to publish the names of people who have been convicted or charged with mega corruption and produce a report on State officials' foreign travels.
They also demanded the publication of all State appointments the President has made since he took office, including before and after the creation of the current “broad based government”.
The clerics have also called on President Ruto to issue an official statement on the state of the appointment of new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners.
On the ongoing strike by university lecturers, Free Pentecostal Church of Kenya Bishop Clement Otieno urged the government to immediately implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to allow normalcy at institutions of higher learning.
