Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has warned President William Ruto against brushing aside concerns raised by the clergy, saying religious leaders remain the moral compass of the nation.

Matiang’i spoke on Saturday, 15 November 2025, during the Ordination of Pastor Dorcas Rigathi in Wamunyoro, where he urged the government to take the voices of church leaders seriously.

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Matiang’i said he had followed the statements issued by various church leaders throughout the week and believed they reflect the real concerns of many Kenyans. He added that the clergy, being ordained, carry moral authority that political leaders should not ignore.

He reminded the gathering that the clergy often speak for communities that look to them for guidance.

“The whole of this week, we have listened very carefully to how the clergy have addressed public issues in this country. My personal experience is that I’ve interacted with some of these wonderful people here,” Matiang’i said.

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“I normally tell people for us in the secular world, these are very dangerous people because we are going to look for votes from all these people. These ones are ordained by God, and when they speak, we better listen.”

He added that national leaders, including the President and his Cabinet, must listen to the church because it often highlights issues affecting ordinary people.

“And I want to ask our national leaders, His Excellency, our President, and the government, please listen to the clergy, listen to the religious leaders of our country”

Matiang’i referred to recent statements by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Anglican Church, and other religious leaders, who had publicly raised concerns about the state of governance. He warned that history shows leaders who ignore the voice of the clergy often take their countries down a dangerous path.

“I saw a very strong statement from the Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Anglican Church leaders have spoken very loudly, and many of you have spoken loudly. Those of you who have read the Bible more often, probably more often than my friend Mithika Linturi, know the fate of those leaders who do not listen to the voice of God through the clergy.”

He urged the government to treat the clergy’s warnings as a reflection of the pain and expectations of citizens.

“And we know what has happened to countries when we do not listen to our ordained men of God. You are the voice of God, you are the conscience of our country. I pray that our national leaders, please listen to the voice of God that is coming from the clergy. They are speaking on behalf of our people, and they are articulating the pain, aspirations, and wishes of our people.”

Bishops list key concerns

The Catholic Bishops had issued a strong statement on Friday, outlining several issues they believe the government needs to address urgently. They criticised the rushed passage of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, saying it lacked proper public participation.

They also noted problems in the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum, which they believe is driven more by political pressure than sound planning.

In the health sector, the bishops pointed out delays in payments to hospitals offering services under the Social Health Authority. They warned that the delays risk disrupting crucial healthcare services.

They also raised concerns about reports of corruption in government institutions and said the slow response to disasters, including recent landslides, showed gaps in preparedness.

While criticising several areas, the bishops also recognised some progress. They welcomed the Teachers Service Commission’s recruitment of 24,000 teachers, saying it could ease shortages in rural schools.

They praised the stabilisation of the Kenyan Shilling, saying it had helped ease economic pressure on families. They also noted improvements in the construction of TVET colleges and expansion of road networks across the country.

The bishops, however, repeated that these gains should not overshadow the challenges still facing the country. They called for more accountability, better oversight of new laws, faster payments in the health sector, and transparency across ministries.