Catholic bishop calls on Ruto, Gachagua supporters to restrain
By Douglas Dindi, June 17, 2024
Catholic bishop Joseph Obanyi has called on President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua to exercise restraint and stop inflaming political tensions in the country.
Bishop Obanyi said differences between the president and his deputy had put the country on the campaign mode and inflamed tensions among their supporters and threatens to relegate the government development agenda.
“Politics of brinkmanship is taking center stage and that means it would be tough to keep the country’s economy on a positive trajectory if the squabbles persist,” Bishop Obanyi said.
Delivering a homily for Catholic congregants at St Andrew Kaggwa Eshisiru Primary School grounds in Kakamega central, the cleric urged leaders to embrace dialogue forgiveness, humility and restraint.
He claimed genuine concerns of Kenyans on the finance bill could likely be swept aside by competing political interests fighting to upstage each other.
“There is always an alternative means to address our differences. What is happening among some of our politicians is like a public speaking competition. This is hurting the economy, which would affect all of us,” he warned.
Campaign tool
He accused some politicians of turning the Finance Bill 2024/25 into a campaign tool to sway public trust.
“Some of this leaders have forums to discuss with the “authority’ directly but have opted to quarrel in public forums just to whip up our emotions. This is regrettable, ” he said.
Lurambi MP Bishop Titus Khamala who attended the service that was used to bless the commissioning of a foundation stone for a proposed eight-classroom storey tuition block at the school urged the government to strike a balance between needs and wants.
‘Yes, I support the government to do the right thing. We need taxes to run this government, to pay our debts, our salaries and our development. But you can’t over tax people to the extent that you deprive them of their needs,” he charged
He said the government should not insist on the offensive taxes in the finance bill if they want parliament to pass it.
“If the parliamentary committee ignores the cries of poor Kenyans, then, the bill would meet a Waterloo because as MPs, we are not elected by the President.”