The archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya Jackson Ole Sapit has announced that the church in in support of Catholic bishops’ position regarding the state of governance in the country.

In a statement on Monday, November 18, 2024, Sapit rubbished earlier reports that indicated that he was siding with the government.

“The Anglican Church of Kenya takes great exception to reports in some section of the media, which seems to indicate that ACK do not agree with the Catholic Bishops for calling out the government on a number of issues facing the country. We the ACK, fully support the catholic bishops’ statement to the nation,” Sapit stated.

Sapit says the ACK church believes that the government is yet to turn around the country and steer it in the right direction.

According to him, calling church leaders names or dismissing the bishops’ statement as “misleading, erroneous and false,” is a dishonest move by Kenya Kwanza-allied politicians.

“The bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth as things are on the ground. No amount of attacks or intimidation will deter the church from calling out evil and speaking the truth to power,” he added.

“Let the political class and those in government come down from their high horses, listen for once, rather than seemingly perpetuate the commonplace culture of impunity. The governed do not need lectures but services and honest engagement. Please concentrate on providing leadership in a meaningful way and first tackle the myriad of problems that is bedevilling the country.”

Sapit has blamed the government for steering the country to the wrong direction, taking issues with the new university funding model, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), unexplained abductions, forced disappearances and unresolved murders.

“It cannot be gainsaid that the new university funding model has not worked. Public universities are barely functioning. Perpetual delays in releasing capitation has continued to undermine efficient running of public schools. It cannot be gainsaid that the transition from National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) has been anything but smooth, causing Kenyans untold suffering. It cannot be gainsaid that Kenyans have suffered unexplained abductions, forced disappearances and unresolved murders,” Sapit lamented.

“Who should be held responsible if not the government? It cannot be gainsaid that Kenyans are struggling with punitive taxes, unemployment crises, and less than ideal business environment. It cannot be gainsaid that the most vulnerable Kenyans have experienced inhuman evictions with no viable alternative to their already precarious living arrangements.”

Sapit has demanded transparency from the government, greater accountability, time-bound plans, and urgent interventions in such services as especially medical care.

“In the circumstances, we should not simply fold our hands and pray for miracles. We do not also condemn the government or even criticize for the sake of it. It is time the government realized that too much talk and open-ended promises will not do,” he stated.

Catholic bishops

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) on November 14, 2024, accused the government of rampant greed and unethical behaviour. 

“We are troubled by politicians’ heightened insensitivity and irresponsibility in their duties, allowing themselves to be compromised in corrupt deals. The massive greed we’re witnessing is shocking and heartbreaking,” they stated.

“There are plans to rush the bill through legislation. A two-term limit of 10 years is adequate, we should scrutinize this political move.”