Government Spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura has sharply criticised Catholic bishops, urging them to stay updated on government initiatives by reading newspapers and engaging with public discourse.
He argued that it is not the government’s duty to individually inform anyone about its programs and maintained that Kenyans are satisfied with the progress made under President William Ruto’s administration.
Catholic bishops during a media presser. Photo: The Star (Facebook)
Dr. Mwaura was responding to a statement from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), issued on Thursday, which accused the government of failing to uphold its pre-election promises.
The bishops pointed to alleged shortcomings in governance, transparency, accountability, and human rights protection. They also expressed concerns about corruption, unresolved cases of enforced disappearances, and stalled economic reforms.
In a rejoinder, Dr. Mwaura defended the government’s track record, citing significant reforms in healthcare and education, including the enrolment of 14 million Kenyans in the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the resolution of Ksh.5 billion in historical debts to healthcare providers.
He also highlighted anti-corruption efforts, claiming the recovery of Ksh.28 billion in stolen assets and proposed legislative amendments to bolster accountability.
On economic matters, Mwaura emphasised the rebound of Kenya’s economy, noting inflation rates at a 17-year low of 2.7%, improved forex reserves, and agricultural surpluses. He dismissed the bishops’ critique, asserting that the government is on the right path to achieving its agenda.
Mwaura concluded by encouraging dialogue and constructive engagement with stakeholders, including the bishops, but warned against reliance on what he termed as “hearsay” or uninformed criticism.
His remarks come amid heightened public discourse on the performance of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
