Church leaders from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) in the Nyanza Region have accused the President William Ruto’s administration of introducing oppressive policies that are destroying businesses and exacerbating unemployment across the country.
In a statement dated by RT Rev Titus Odoyo Okoda, the NCCK Vice Chairman of Nyanza Region, after a two-day Regional Electoral and Governance Forum held on 4–5 November 2025 at Friends Church in Kisumu, the NCCK officials said Kenyans are poorer than they were a year ago.
“We call upon the county and national governments to speedily reverse the insensitive and draconian laws and policies that are suffocating the business environment in Kenya,” read part of the NCCK statement.
They attributed the situation to industries shutting down, businesses collapsing, and a rise in job losses.
Businesses Struggling Under Harsh Policies
The NCCK warned that the government has imposed “insensitive and draconian laws and policies” that are suffocating the business environment.
According to the statement, these policies are driving many enterprises into bankruptcy, leaving citizens without a source of income.
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They said the resulting unemployment has led to increased insecurity, family breakdowns, and cases of suicide linked to financial distress.
“Citizens are worse off now than they were last year. This is being driven by loss of jobs as more industries close and large, medium, and small businesses run bankrupt,” the statement noted.
The clergy urged both county and national governments to reverse the policies they say are crippling economic growth.
They emphasised that Kenyans are struggling to survive, while the cost of doing business continues to rise.
Stop Early 2027 Election Campaigns, NCCK Warns Politicians
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has criticised politicians for launching premature campaigns for the 2027 General Election, stating that the practice is reckless and poses a danger to national stability.
According to the NCCK statement, leaders across the country have already begun campaigning despite the polls being two years away.
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The church leaders raised concerns that these campaigns are not only unnecessary but are also fuelling division and tension.
“Leaders are pouring out hate speech and other forms of incitement with impunity,” they said, condemning the rise in inflammatory remarks by politicians.
They called on key institutions such as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and the National Police Service to take firm action against offenders.
“Punish, and even deregister, any political party whose members engage in incitement and acts of violence,” the clergy advised.
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