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Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi fired back at Catholic bishops on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, after they vowed to decline contributions made to them by President William Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over the weekend.

In a statement, Sudi charged the bishops with interfering with the wishes of their congregants, who he said usually invite politicians to assist in church-building initiatives.

“Nashangaa wewe mwenye uko pale juu unapinga kazi inayofanyika pale chini. Watu wanachanga hadi wengine wanatoka kanisani kwa sababu wanaambiwa kila wiki wachange. Tunaomba msamaha kama tumewakosea lakini fungu la kumi lazima tutoe, kanisa lazima tuende na tutaendelea,” Sudi said.

(Some of you (bishops) in your positions of authority are against the good work we are doing. In some churches, congregants have fled due to weekly contributions that have become a burden. Receive our apologies but we have to pay our tithes, attend the church and we shall continue doing so.)

Sudi blames bishops

Sudi also blamed the catholic bishops for amplifying the challenges in the Kenya-Kwanza administration and rebuked the men of cloth for failing to highlight some of the state’s achievements alongside the blame.

Following the widely publicized press conference on Thursday, November 14, 2024, where the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) expressed their disapproval of President Ruto and his administration, the state has been embroiled in several counter-statements.

A section of leaders allied to the administration profiled the bishops and alluded that their disgruntlement stemmed from the controversial ouster of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office.

However, on Monday, November 18, 2024, the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) through its head Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit backed the catholic bishops for calling out Ruto’s regime, noting that no amount of intimidation or attacks would deter the church from calling out evil.

“We as the ACK fully support the catholic bishops’ statement to 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’ statements as misleading, erroneous and false is in itself dishonest,” Sapit said.

Adding: “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.”