Premature Political Campaigns, Corruption “scourge”, Abductions among Challenges Kenya’s Catholic Bishops Want Ended

In their seven-page statement read out during the 2025 Lenten Campaign Launch that was realized in the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, KCCB members have decried “ethnic mobilizations” in the East African nation, which they say is a precursor to divisions that can jeopardize efforts towards nation building. 

“Ethnic mobilization has long been employed as a tool of division and manipulation. Over the decades, the exploitation of ethnic identities for political gain has led to violence and deep societal fractures,” Kenya’s Catholic Bishops have lamented in the statement that their Chairman, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of the country’s Kisumu Archdiocese, read out on Friday, February 28 at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa.

They have called for discernment with the aid of past happenings. “Today, we stand resolute in our commitment to learn from these painful lessons. We affirm that every Kenyan, regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation, deserves to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect,” KCCB members have said. 

In building a desirable country, they have urged every Kenyan to embrace a future that will unite everyone “in mutual recognition and respect, transcending the divisive tactics of the past.”

The continued abductions and enforced disappearances raise a red flag for the East African nation, KCCB have said. “We come out once again to express our profound dismay over the incidents of abductions and extra-judicial killings that threaten the sanctity of life in our nation,” they have said. 

“Life is a divine gift from God. It is our sacred duty to protect every individual, ensuring that no one is subjected to violence or denied their inherent dignity,” they have added. 

They have called for responsibility and “decisive” action to protect human life in Kenya. “It is the duty of all relevant authorities to take decisive, transparent action to end these inhumane practices, affirming that every human life is inviolable and worthy of protection,” Kenya’s Catholic Bishops emphasize, calling for an end to abductions in the country.

In their statement, KCCB members have also decried the “scourge of corruption” that they say hinders Kenya’s progress on many fronts. “Corruption remains one of the most insidious challenges undermining our national progress and eroding public trust in our institutions,” they have said.

Despite reform promises, there seems nothing to show that any reform has happened as the vice continues to infiltrate national and County governments, diverting vital resources from those who need them the most.

“As the Church, we categorically condemn all forms of corruption that rob our people of their God-given rights and obstruct the path to a just society,” KCCB members have said. 

They are urging Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and other relevant bodies to enforce anti-corruption measures. “We truly desire a Kenya where corruption has no place and where services are offered without any bribe,” KCCB members have said.

For them, “Robust anti-corruption measures must be enforced to safeguard public resources, ensuring that every available shilling is invested in the sustainable development of our nation. We desire a Kenya where all public processes are fully transparent.”

On the country’s economy, KCCB member have decried the housing levy and taxation as unjust. “Economic justice is a cornerstone of our vision for a fairer and more prosperous Kenya,” they have said, and called for a comprehensive reform of economic policies that benefit all Kenyans. 

“We also call for complete transparency in the allocation and utilization of tax revenues, insisting that these funds be exclusively dedicated to providing essential services that uplift the common good,” Kenya’s Catholic Bishops have said.

They are urging the government to lower the cost of living, which they say continues to negatively affect millions of Kenyans, despite isolated improvements in the pricing of certain commodities.

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Essential services such as electricity, transportation, and healthcare are “becoming increasingly unaffordable, placing an undue strain on family budgets and diminishing quality of life,” they lament. 

To address these challenges, KCCB members have underlined the need for stakeholders in both private and public sectors to engage to engage “in comprehensive, transparent dialogue and implement sustainable strategies to bring down the cost of living to manageable levels.”

In their statement at the launch of the 2025 Lenten Campaign, KCCB have acknowledged with appreciation the resilience of the people of God in Kenya, expressing optimism that the country can still be redeemed.

“The resilience and determination of our people, coupled with the call on ethical leadership and steadfast faith, assure us that all is not lost,” KCCB member have said, and added, “We are witnessing a growing collective awareness and a renewed commitment to justice, unity, and the common good.”