The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) has expressed solidarity with Catholic Bishops, supporting their recent statement criticizing President William Ruto’s administration for failing to steer the country in the right direction.
The ACK issued a strongly worded statement highlighting its concerns and calling for immediate action on critical national issues.
Backing the Bishops’ Statement
Dismissing reports suggesting discord between the two Christian denominations, the ACK clarified that it fully supports the Catholic Bishops’ sentiments, emphasizing that the clergy have faithfully articulated the concerns of ordinary Kenyans.
The ACK condemned dismissive responses from government officials, describing them as dishonest and counterproductive.
“The bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth as things are on the ground. Calling church leaders names or dismissing their statement as ‘misleading, erroneous and false,’ is itself dishonest,” the ACK stated.
Adding:
“We believe that 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.”
Addressing Key National Issues
The church called on the government to focus on resolving pressing challenges facing the nation rather than engaging in political grandstanding.
The ACK highlighted several key issues, including:
- Education Sector Struggles
- Public universities are barely functional due to delays in releasing capitation, undermining their efficiency.
- The new university funding model has yet to yield positive results.
- Public schools are grappling with inadequate support, leaving students and teachers in limbo.
- Health Sector Concerns
- The transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) has caused disruptions, leaving many Kenyans unable to access essential medical services.
- Human Rights Violations
- Kenyans continue to endure unexplained abductions, forced disappearances, and unresolved murders, with no accountability from authorities.
- Economic Challenges
- The high tax burden, unemployment crisis, and unfavorable business environment have left many Kenyans struggling to make ends meet.
- Vulnerable communities have faced inhumane evictions without viable alternatives for resettlement.
A Call for Accountability and Leadership
The ACK urged the government to prioritize action over rhetoric, demanding transparency, accountability, and concrete, time-bound solutions to Kenya’s challenges. The church highlighted the urgency of providing essential services like healthcare, which cannot be delayed further.
“It is time the government realized that too much talk and open-ended promises will not do. The governed do not need lectures but services and honest engagement,” the statement read.
Quoting Proverbs 29:2, the ACK reminded leaders of the moral responsibility of governance: “When the rulers are good, the people are happy. When the rulers are evil, the people complain.”
A Unified Clergy Stands Firm
The ACK reiterated that the church will not be silenced by intimidation or attacks, affirming its role in speaking truth to power.
Both Anglican and Catholic clergy emphasized that their criticisms aim to demand better leadership, not to condemn the government.
In a country grappling with multiple crises, the church’s united front signals a growing frustration with the political class and an urgent call for transformative leadership.
As Kenya navigates these turbulent times, the church’s message remains clear: It is time for the government to act decisively and prioritize the well-being of all Kenyans.
