Saturday 01st March, 2025 10:03 PM|
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has urged non secular establishments to concentrate on religious nourishment and leave political matters to politicians.
Speaking on the burial of the late Senator William Cheptumo in Baringo on March 1, 2025, Ichung’wah expressed concern in regards to the rising involvement of some church leaders in political points.
He cautioned the clergy in opposition to abandoning their religious steering roles.
“We have seen recently that some have abandoned their work of seeking God’s righteousness by guiding us on spiritual matters and have entered into matters concerning our rights,” he acknowledged.
He particularly criticized non secular teams which have raised issues about money owed owed to faith-based hospitals beneath the brand new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
He identified that comparable grievances weren’t voiced when funds had been reportedly misappropriated beneath the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
“Those debts were from NHIF, but earlier when funds were being stolen from NHIF, we didn’t hear about ‘our rights’ or debts being demanded. But now that they’ve been inherited by the Social Health Insurance Fund, we’re hearing a lot of noise about it,” Ichung’wah remarked.
He emphasised the significance of non secular establishments in offering healthcare providers whereas insisting that issues of governance and political discourse ought to be left to elected leaders.
“I request that all of us in the church return to the work of seeking God’s righteousness by directing all Kenyans to God’s service, but let’s leave the other matters to those who have been called to that work,” he mentioned.
Church criticism on SHA
His remarks come within the wake of Catholic Church Archbishop Muheria’s sharp criticism of the federal government, during which he accused it of focusing an excessive amount of on publicity somewhat than precise service supply.
“There has to be less rhetoric. We have to stop advertising and act. The government seems to be preoccupied with showcasing projects and plans, but governance is not about promotions—it is about execution. That is what we need to see,” Muheria acknowledged on February 21, 2025.
Muheria criticized the federal government’s newly launched Social Health Authority (SHA), labelling it a failure that has exacerbated the disaster in Kenya’s healthcare system.
He accused the administration of ignoring this system’s shortcomings, arguing that its persistent defence of SHA demonstrates that the federal government shouldn’t be listening to the struggles of odd Kenyans.
“We are still operating within an extremely constrained healthcare system. The reimbursements that were supposed to transition seamlessly from the now-defunct NHIF to SHA are simply not functioning. Hospitals are not receiving these payments on time,” he revealed.
Muheria painted a bleak image of Catholic hospitals dealing with extreme monetary pressure as a result of authorities’s failure to fulfill its obligations.
He disclosed that the Nyeri Catholic Hospital is owed Ksh 250 million, whereas Catholic hospitals throughout the nation are burdened with excellent funds totalling Ksh 2.6 billion.
“We cry out, we appeal, yet we receive nothing but vague, non-committal responses. Sometimes we are told we complain too much or exaggerate. But in any serious institution, a debt of Ksh 250 million is crippling—it halts operations. And yet, despite this, we have continued to provide healthcare services,” he acknowledged.
The archbishop emphasised that discuss alone wouldn’t remedy the healthcare system’s points, urging the federal government to acknowledge SHA’s failures and decide to real options.
“We need to see a functional system, not just hear lofty statements. Reimbursements and payments must be made. It is disheartening that instead of addressing these pressing issues, we continue to bury our heads in the sand,” he concluded.
Voice of the individuals
Speaking in Bungoma on February 22, 2025, Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya praised the church for stepping up because the voice of the individuals, arguing that Parliament has failed in its responsibility to symbolize odd residents.
“I want to thank the Catholic Church because we have a Parliament that has refused to do its job. Parliament was elected to defend ordinary citizens, but we have a Parliament that has failed to speak up on the issues that Kenyans want to hear,” Salasya mentioned.
The vocal legislator applauded the Catholic Church, stating that the Holy Spirit had impressed its leaders to talk on behalf of Kenyans.
“That’s why we’ve seen the Catholic Church step up. I want to thank the Holy Spirit that has manifested in the Catholic Church to speak and voice the concerns of citizens. Let’s applaud the church,” Salasya acknowledged.