Church leaders are standing firm, stating they will continue to call out misconduct among those in power. They insist that politicians must drop the insults and focus on fulfilling their promises. Despite criticism from political figures, these clerics believe their voices are essential for promoting unity and holding leaders accountable.
Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria challenged political leaders to “mature up” and end the verbal attacks. He warned that public bickering between the government and the opposition distracts from the real issues affecting Kenyans.
Muheria noted that the growing culture of insults undermines public conversation and urged leaders to show restraint and prioritize service. He also called out politicians who have turned their sights on religious leaders, accusing them of unfairly attacking the clergy for speaking up against political intolerance.
The archbishop defended the church’s role, explaining that religious leaders have a responsibility to foster unity and address leadership failures.
“In our message today, we urge Kenyans to stand firm and tell off leaders who are trading insults instead of serving the people,” he said, adding that accountability is needed from those in positions of power.
His remarks follow a heated debate over the role of clergy in politics, sparked by recent comments from President William Ruto, who warned religious leaders against politicizing the pulpit.
On Saturday, President Ruto urged clerics to prevent politicians from turning churches into battlegrounds. Speaking in Yala, the president accused opposition figures of using church platforms to spread insults, hate, and divisive politics as his war of words with rivals intensified.
“Mimi naheshimu sana viongozi wetu wa dini lakini msikubali majukwaa, madhabahu, kanisa itumike kwa matusi…kwa kuendesha fitina na ukabila na chuki kati ya Wakenya…sisi tunaelewana jameni? wale wanatutukana kwa kanisa tunawaambia punguzeni mambo yenu,” Ruto said.
His allies also joined the dispute, blaming the clergy for allowing these outbursts. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah expressed embarrassment that archbishops would oversee the trading of insults at the altar.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed added his perspective:
“Tutoe matusi kwa kanisa tukutane kwa kiwanja, sisi hatuwezi enda kwa kanisa kutusi watu…sisi tunangoja wewe hapa kwa soko tutakumbusha wewe…”
Archbishop Anthony Muheria has stood firm, asserting that the church will continue to address national concerns, especially those regarding how the country is run and how its people stay united.
In Nairobi, Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Nairobi Catholic Archdiocese shared these worries. He urged political leaders to lower the rising political temperature and instead focus on fulfilling the promises they made during the 2022 campaigns. He reminded politicians that Kenyans elected them to serve and that citizens look for leadership that brings growth and positivity.
“We want to ask our politicians; they are the signs of this country, you know. Let them look at us as the people who elect them and bring them to those levels for them to serve us, to serve the people of Kenya. People of Kenya are lovely, and they like their leaders, and they want to hear positive things,” he said.
He warned that constant political fighting frustrates the public and called on leaders to ease these tensions before the next elections by choosing unity and reconciliation. Anyolo also made it clear that the church would keep encouraging leaders to work together. He urged them to show restraint in their words, thoughts, and actions while staying focused on what is best for the people of Kenya.
“When there are too many quarrels, people become upset. As we move closer to the next elections, we urge leaders to be friendly to one another, to come together, to reconcile, and to allow God to guide the choice of leadership. All of them seek leadership, and ultimately the people will decide through their votes. We therefore ask our leaders to be sober in their language, in their thinking, and in their actions, and to focus on serving the greater good of the people of Kenya,” he said.
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