MPs Respond to Catholic Bishops’ Corruption Allegations, Challenge Clergy to Present Evidence
Members of Parliament (MPs) have strongly rebuffed the recent accusations of corruption made by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), urging the clergy to present evidence to investigative agencies or directly name any corrupt legislators.
In a statement issued on Thursday, KCCB, led by Chairman Rev. Maurice Makumba, accused elected leaders of engaging in widespread corruption and failing in their duty to serve the people. The bishops claimed that MPs were allowing themselves to be compromised by corrupt deals, with some abusing their positions for personal gain. They described the greed as “shocking and heartbreaking.”
“We are troubled by their heightened insensitivity and irresponsibility in carrying out their tasks, allowing themselves to be captured and compromised in corrupt deals,” the bishops said.
In response, Majority Leader in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, challenged the bishops to back up their allegations with concrete evidence or publicly name the MPs involved.
“Dear Catholic bishops, let us all be honest. If you have any information on corrupt legislators, please furnish it to investigative agencies or just name them and shame them,” Ichung’wah said. “Otherwise, these are just baseless allegations, and we cannot allow such reckless accusations to go unchecked.”
Ichung’wah further dismissed the bishops’ claims as political, accusing them of spreading falsehoods about the proposed bill to extend the terms of elected leaders from five to seven years. The bill, sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, was withdrawn due to lack of support and never reached the floor of Parliament.
“On this Cherargei bill that died in the Senate for lack of support, how does a dead private member’s bill find its way in your statement?” Ichung’wah asked. “The drafter of this statement is either misinformed or seeking to play to a political gallery.”
Senators Reject Claims on Term Extension Bill
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, who is Ichung’wah’s counterpart in the Senate, also weighed in on the bishops’ statement. He pointed out that the majority UDA party had distanced itself from the bill, which was rejected by both the Senate and the public.
“On October 31, 2024, the Senate Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs unanimously rejected the bill, marking the end of the road for the proposed term extension,” Cheruiyot said. “The clergy must avoid becoming purveyors of propaganda, fake news, and falsehoods. The bill was rejected by both Parliament and the public during the Senate’s public participation process.”
Cheruiyot and Ichung’wah both called for a more fact-based and transparent approach in the bishops’ public commentary, urging them to focus on issues that genuinely serve the well-being of the Kenyan people.
The ongoing back-and-forth between the clergy and lawmakers underscores the growing tensions over issues of governance, corruption, and legislative priorities. MPs have made it clear that they will not tolerate unfounded accusations and have called for a more responsible dialogue on national issues.
Meanwhile, the KCCB has continued to advocate for greater accountability in government, with a focus on ethical leadership and transparency.
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