Stop: You’re Out of Order, Kingi Tells Bishops

By Mwakwaya Raymond

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Senate Speaker Amason Jefwa Kingi has told off Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops over their criticisms of Ruto’s administration running a crisis after crisis of its endeavours without any tangible trajectory.

Although the bishops were highly respected servants of God and in the society, the Speaker said they should not shout at the President, but privately consult him of whatever emerging issues they want addressed.

On Thursday, November 14, 2024, the conference of 28 Catholic Bishops released a hard-hitting statement enumerating Kenyans’ concerns about Kenya Kwanza Alliance/United Democratic Alliance misses in its two years in power.

The KCCB’s release evoked instant reactions from different luminaries of the ruling broadbased government who took a swipe at the bishop with some profiling Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri Archdiocese.

According to Kingi respect is a two way traffic and that the bishops should lead the way by respecting the highest office on the land when addressing the head of state.

Though he acknowledges there were challenges bedevilling the government, he called on those critical to the current regime to find alternative ways of reaching out to the President using laid down protocols.

“I don’t mean to say that the bishops have no right to point out any issues that may not be clear to them, but as leaders who command a large following of the population they should have used a different approach rather than public avenue to air their displeasures.”

The speaker was addressing a congregation at Dabaso village to commemorate death of Cannon Silas Mweri father of Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, where he assured the public of the government’s commitment to fulfill its campaign pledges, over the weekend.

“Bishops are very resourceful leaders in the community and should cooperate with the government to realise meaningful development and harmony to all Kenyans.

Let me appeal to all the church leadership to use a better way to correct the President for the good of all of us and the nation at large.”

In his reaction, the impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua said it was unfair for highly placed government leaders to accuse the men of cloth of raising pertinent issues afflicting Kenyans and of public interest.

Earlier at the Dabaso function, Kilifi governor Gideon Mung’aro and the County Assembly Speaker Teddy Mwambire asked the Senate Speaker to resolve the stalemate between the two houses over the amount to be disbursed to the devolved units.

The leaders expressed disappointment the prolonged tussle and failure of disbursement of funds was having an adverse effects on the 47 county governments.

In his response, Kingi pleaded for patience saying the finance bill would reflect public interests. He assured all would be well ‘soon’.

“We are there to safeguard the interests of the counties and there’s no way we shall let down the public because that’s our sole mandate”.

According to him they formed a joint committee from both houses to undertake mediation that will soon be resolved.

However, he took a swipe at the National Assembly (NA) for playing hard ball in resolving the contentious issues of the stalemate.

NA majority whip Silvanus Osoro, who was in attendance, asked governors to be accountable for monies under their custody.

Speaker Kingi echoed Osoro’s sentiments saying already three governors would soon face the wrath of the Senate for failing to honour their summons to answer queries regarding funds under their management.

“There are some errant governors who do not honor summons to appear before the Senate to answer some unclear issues and they will now face the full force of the Senate to be lessons to the rest of the governors.”