Kilifi clerics call out Catholic bishops for criticising Ruto regime

A section of clergy in Kilifi county have urged Catholic bishops to go slow on criticism of President William Ruto’s administration.

Led by Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Bishop Reuben Katite, the clergy said the Catholic bishops should have sought for talks with Ruto and before issuing a public statement.

Bishop Katite said it was disrespectful of the Catholic bishops to publicly criticise the president before seeking other avenues to address their concerns about the Kenya Kwanza government.

"They should have sought an opportunity to engage the president on issues of concern to Kenyans before resorting to public criticism. What they did was a show of disrespect to the president," he claimed.

He spoke during the memorial of Kilifi North MP Owen Baya’s father the late Canon Silas Mweri in Dabaso village.

This follows a hard-hitting statement issued by Catholic bishops criticising President Ruto's government, citing unexplained killings, abductions, rampant corruption and a growing culture of deceit.

Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairman Maurice Muhatia led the bishops in criticising Kenya Kwanza government policies including the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

Leaders present included Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro and Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwuor.

Kingi also urged the clergy to use alternative ways of addressing the President instead of going public.