Catholic Bishops have condemned the rising political intolerance, organised violence and weakening respect for public office, warning that the country risks deepening divisions ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Thursday, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) expressed deep concern over what it described as a growing disregard for the sanctity of life, cautioning that Kenya could be sliding into a dangerous culture marked by violence, trafficking, political intolerance and corruption if urgent interventions are not taken.
In a message titled “Protect life and prosper”, the bishops said Kenyans were increasingly becoming desensitised to death, pointing to past tragedies such as Shakahola and recent reports of killings in parts of the Rift Valley.
They noted that in several cases, the circumstances surrounding deaths remain unclear, warning that victims, often from poor communities, are quickly forgotten after such incidents fade from public attention.
“We seem to have become insensitive to killing. People are dying, and we are moving on as if nothing happened,” the bishops said, calling for accountability and respect for the sanctity of life.
The bishops also raised alarm over the rise in human trafficking, urging authorities to act decisively to curb the vice and protect vulnerable citizens.
On road safety, they warned that the increasing number of accidents was being driven by reckless driving and disregard for traffic laws, which they linked to corruption and weak enforcement systems.
They urged passengers to take responsibility by refusing to board vehicles driven carelessly and called on law enforcement officers to eliminate bribery on the roads, saying corruption among some officers was contributing to preventable loss of lives.
The clerics further condemned what they termed growing political intolerance and goonism, citing the use of indecent language, insults and hostility among leaders as a threat to national cohesion.
They warned that Kenya must not normalise situations where organised groups disrupt public meetings, places of worship and community gatherings, adding that such behaviour only persists where it is shielded by influential individuals and tolerated by authorities.
“We are appalled by the patronage culture that promotes goonism. This culture can only thrive if protected by its masters. It is happening in the sight of law enforcement officers,” reads the statement.
The bishops urged political leaders to exercise restraint, stressing that leadership is a responsibility rather than a privilege, and warning that children are observing and learning from the conduct of adults in public life.
They also called for respect for opposition voices, saying they must be treated with dignity, and urged leaders to avoid turning religious gatherings into political platforms.
In the health sector, the bishops warned that delays in payments to faith-based health facilities were threatening service delivery, revealing that Catholic institutions are owed Sh5.7 billion, including Sh3.3 billion in NHIF arrears.
They further raised concerns over the transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying the system was not functioning smoothly and had significant gaps that require urgent correction.
In education, the clerics criticised the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), arguing that it was poorly planned, resource-intensive and requiring stronger support systems.
They urged the Ministry of Education to establish a review team to assess CBC implementation, warning against exposing learners to what they termed an “experimental” system, and also raised concern over attempts to weaken the role of school sponsors.
The bishops further decried entrenched corruption, saying greed and graft had become normalised, with limited political will to combat the vice effectively.
They cited a dispute involving an alleged attempt to take over land belonging to Catholic sisters in Karen, saying the matter reflected ongoing struggles in protecting property rights and addressing corruption.
In addition, they highlighted challenges in civil registration, including delays in processing marriages and shortages of marriage certificates, saying these issues were discouraging couples from formalising unions.
The bishops also called for prayers for peace in the Middle East amid ongoing conflict, warning that global instability has ripple effects and urging the government to cushion Kenyans from the resulting impacts.
