Last Thursday, the Kenya Kwanza government was forced to accelerate its communication machinery to respond to a statement issued by Catholic bishops calling it out on a culture of lies, bad governance and human rights abuses.

For some time, since President William Ruto came to power, the Church has struggled with when and how to speak about Kenya Kwanza’s governing style, given that most of the Pentecostal, Evangelical and Indigenous Christian churches played a pivotal role in his election.

The church was at a crossroads as the government continued to overtax citizens, cripple democracy through the capture of Parliament and Judiciary and resorted to abductions, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests of individuals perceived to be its critics.

Scriptures are full of admonitions for God’s people to rebuke evil, sometimes with stinging specificity.

Reading through the words of biblical prophets, one hears God calling out injustices of all kinds — towards children, women, the poor, and the voiceless.

The church has been given a specific mission, and in any democracy, the role of religious leaders is often that of a moral compass, offering counsel on matters of governance, justice, and societal well-being.

In Kenya, Catholic bishops have long held a prominent position in shaping public discourse and influencing national policy.

Rather reacting with indignation to the clerics’ criticism, as the President did, he should heed their advice. Their perspective is rooted in both ethical principles and the lived realities of Kenyans. Their words should not be seen as a personal attack on the President but as the genuine concerns of a fraternity that cares about the welfare of all Kenyans.

Though Kenya Kwanza mandarins claim they have transformed key sectors of the economy, life remains unbearable for many Kenyans.

In an era when political discourse can often be divisive and self-serving, the Church’s voice provides an anchor of reason, urging leaders to prioritise the common good over partisan interests.

For instance, the bishops have suggested that economic policies prioritise the most vulnerable, rather than simply focusing on macroeconomic growth.