Kapseret Member of Parliament (MP) Oscar Sudi has sent a message to religious leaders days after responding to a statement by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), who had criticized President William Ruto’s government.
In a statement on Tuesday, November 19, MP Sudi appealed to religious leaders following his earlier remarks in which he slammed them for their criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The Catholic bishops had on Thursday last week issued a statement accusing President Ruto’s government of failing Kenyans, citing unexplained killings, abductions, widespread corruption, and a growing culture of deception.
In their pointed statement, the bishops criticized the government for creating an environment where citizens have become desensitized to the lies propagated by politicians.
Sudi in his response went on to single out Nyeri Archdiocese Archbishop Anthony Muheria, claiming that the Archbishop lacked the moral authority to criticize the Kenya Kwanza administration.
However, the Kapseret MP on Tuesday took a more measured tone, urging religious leaders to highlight the positives alongside their criticisms of the government.
Oscar Sudi sends appeal to Bishops
He pointed to some of the achievements of the Kenya Kwanza administration, including the appreciation of the Kenyan shilling against the dollar.
Also Read: Catholic Church Rejects Ruto’s Millions and Bus
Sudi also highlighted other projects that have been initiated by the ruling regime such as the Affordable Housing Project, further explaining that he is not defending the President because of their friendship.
“I want to send an appeal to those who are criticizing the government, those who have become the opposition, our bishops, when calling out the ills which you see as a problem, also speak about the positives,” he said.
“The prices of sugar, fertilizer, maize flour, and petroleum have all gone down. Kenya Power was a loss-making company, right now I hear they announced dividends, the same as KenGen. Kenya Airways was also making losses but now they have made profits I hear they plan to buy planes, So I urge you when criticizing the government try and credit Dr. William Ruto for the work he has done.”
Sudi’s statement comes days after Catholic Bishops condemned Ruto’s administration and criticized it for fostering an environment where citizens have become accustomed to the lies propagated by politicians.
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President Ruto’s government on the spot
The bishops while calling out the government for a growing culture of deception further condemned it over the unexplained killings, abductions, and widespread corruption.
Also Read: Ruto Hit by Another Bombshell from Raila’s Backyard
On November 16, President Ruto while speaking during the graduation ceremony at Tangaza University responded to the bishops’ statement and asked members of the clergy to be careful of what they discuss publicly.
“Even as we engage in public discourse in matters that are important to the people of Kenya, we must be careful to be factual lest we become victims of the things we accuse others of doing,” said the President as the crowd burst into laughter. “You know what I mean.”
Following the statement by Catholic bishops, other religious leaders have also come out to call out the government.
The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) on November 19 voiced its support for the Roman Catholic Church in criticizing Ruto’s administration.
ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit in a statement on Monday, however, said ACK “fully supports” the Catholic bishops’ statement on the state of the nation.
“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,” Sapit said, a reference to the government’s response to the Thursday statement.
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