A war of words has erupted following a statement issued by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), prompting swift rebuttals from both the Ministry of Health and Kericho County Senator Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot.
On 14th November 2024, the Catholic Bishops issued a press statement raising concerns about political instability, government corruption, the handling of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) debts, and a purported agenda to extend the terms of elected officials.
The Bishops also criticized the government for neglecting its promises to faith-based healthcare providers and for failing to address human rights violations, particularly following the violent events surrounding the “GenZ demonstrations” earlier in the year.
In a forceful response, the Ministry of Health, through a press statement from Cabinet Secretary Deborah M. Barasa, took exception to the Bishops’ claims regarding the NHIF and the unpaid debts owed to healthcare providers, particularly Catholic-run health facilities.
The Ministry called the Bishops’ assertions “misleading, erroneous, and false,” asserting that the government had already mobilized KSh 7.58 billion over the past month to begin settling the outstanding KSh 19 billion owed to healthcare providers, including KSh 938 million to faith-based hospitals.
“The Government is committed to clearing all historical NHIF debts,” the Ministry’s statement read. “To date, KSh 5.05 billion has been disbursed, including KSh 938 million to health facilities owned by faith-based organizations, the majority of which are Catholic-run. The remaining KSh 2.5 billion will be paid out by next week, and we are reconciling new claims from October and November 2024 to ensure timely payments.”
The Ministry’s statement rejected the Bishops’ claims that the government had failed to fulfill its promises, particularly to vulnerable communities served by faith-based institutions. The government’s response further urged stakeholders, including the Catholic Church, to support the rollout of the Social Health Authority, which is tasked with managing the new health insurance system and clearing the backlog of NHIF claims.
Senator Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot, the Senate Majority Leader, also responded to the Bishops’ claims regarding a proposed constitutional amendment to extend the term limits of elected leaders. The Bishops had expressed concern over a bill that allegedly sought to extend the presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, warning of a political agenda that would undermine democratic processes.
In his response, Senator Cheruiyot clarified that the bill in question, presented by Senator Samson Cherargel of Nandi County, was a privately sponsored initiative and not supported by the Majority Party (UDA). He noted that the bill had been rejected in the Senate’s public participation process, and the Senate’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee had also unanimously dismissed the proposal on 31st October 2024.
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“I urge the Church to refrain from propagating misinformation,” Cheruiyot said in his statement. “The bill is a private member’s initiative, and the Majority Party has distanced itself from it. It was rejected in the Senate, and there is no ongoing effort to extend the terms of elected leaders. Religious leaders must avoid being drawn into political schemes based on falsehoods. If there are issues with individual leaders, they should use the proper constitutional channels to address them.”
Cheruiyot also took issue with the Bishops’ broader criticism of the government, particularly their allegations of corruption and violations of human rights. He urged the Church to focus on specific concerns rather than attacking the entire government.
“We must avoid painting with a broad brush. If the Church has concerns about specific leaders or issues, they should engage through appropriate legal and constitutional mechanisms,” he added.
