The Bishops have spoken: Will Kenya listen?

By Wanja Maina

The Catholic Bishops met today [Thursday, November 13] at the Donum Dei Spirituality Centre in Karen.

And no, they were not tasting wine. Kenya has joked about the “Mass Wine” story for weeks, but today the Bishops had far more pressing matters on their plate than what goes into a cup at Mass.

Their statement, “Building a Kenya of Hope and Justice: Our Civic Duty”, read less like a sermon and more like a moral audit of the nation’s soul. It mourned, commended, rebuked, and challenged. The Bishops reminded Kenyans that the Church, even in a secular state, remains a moral compass when politics falter.

They began by mourning two figures, one spiritual and one political. They paid tribute to the late Bishop Philip Sulumeti, who served the Church faithfully for over five decades, and to the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, whose democratic struggles “embodied the pursuit of justice, freedom, and unity.” They highlighted Raila’s ability to forgive and choose dialogue over division, a subtle call to Kenya’s current leaders to emulate his spirit of reconciliation.

Disappointment in the country’s governance

The Bishops then turned to governance. They expressed concern about the hurried enactment of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act and the Land Amendment Act No. 21 of 2025. Without meaningful public participation, they warned, such laws risk becoming tools of repression rather than instruments of order. Democracy cannot thrive where citizens fear surveillance or punishment for speaking out.

Education and healthcare were next. The Bishops lamented the shift from CBC to CBE, teacher shortages in rural areas, and political interference in curriculum decisions.

In healthcare, they acknowledged the promise of the new Social Health Authority but decried delays in payments to hospitals, especially faith-based ones that continue to serve the poor. No scheme, however noble, can survive if hospitals are starved of funds.

The Bishops called on young Kenyans to register as voters ahead of 2027. They described registration not as a ritual but as a voice of hope for a more accountable, inclusive, and compassionate nation. They also addressed corruption, calling it deeply embedded in government systems and a betrayal of public trust. Integrity cannot be preached on Sunday and betrayed on Monday.

A proud Catholic

I have never been more proud to be a Catholic than I am today. The Bishops’ courage and moral clarity are a reminder that faith must be lived in action. Their words call us to rebuild, to demand fairness, transparency, and dignity, and to care for the poor, marginalized, and those on the edges of power. The fight for justice is also the fight for gender equality, disability inclusion, decent healthcare, and politics that serve people rather than power.

The Bishops’ message is not just to government but to all of us. It is a national examination of conscience. Crises of corruption, poor governance, and institutional decay are not only political failures but moral ones.

As the year ends and the country prepares for another election cycle, their message rings clear: our democracy cannot survive on slogans and blame. It must rest on justice, compassion, and truth.

When they quoted 1 Peter 4:10, that each of us should use whatever gift we have “to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace,” it was both a challenge and a prayer. In a time of cynicism, it reminds us to rebuild Kenya with conscience, courage, and compassion.

Wanja Maina, CPM, is a certified professional mediator, the Chairperson of PWDs at the Jubilee Party, and represents Nalafem in Kenya