Ruto meets Catholic Bishops after protest on policy shift » Capital News
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 13 — President William Ruto met the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) at State House Nairobi on Friday after the conference protested several policy changes it claimed undermined the church.
Ruto’s Press Office said the meeting covered discussions on the health and education sector adding that the Head of State committed to collaborating with the Church towards “strengthening our country’s governance.”
The meeting attended by KCCB Chairperson Archbishop Maurice Muhatia (Kisumu) and Vice Chairperson Archbishop Anthony Muheria (Nyeri) came just a day after the conference protested a proposed education reform plan it said undermined the Church’s role on Catholic-sponsored schools.
The two were joined by Nairobi Archbishop Philip Anyolo and Bishops Dominic Kimengich (Eldoret), Michael Odiwa (Homabay), and the Very Rev. Jude James Waweru.
KCCB singled out the Basic Education Bill 2024 terming its proposals as regressive. KCCB said the Bill undermines the role of the church in education.
“The proposed new bill now threatens the crucial role of the churches in our education system. We therefore decry and reject the systematic scheme to undermine and weaken our role as the founders of Catholic-sponsored schools,” he stated.
KCCB had also protested revised work permit fees for missionaries terming them immoral.
“The exorbitant changes in the work permits paid by missionaries from Sh15,000 to Sh150,000 is unethical and shows a lack of gratitude to people,” Archbishop Muheria had said on Thursday.
Doctors’ strike
During its conference with news reporters where KCCB unveiled a new Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and sectoral leads, Catholic Bishops also urged the government to intervene and end the month-long doctors’ strike even as they urged doctors to reconsider their stance.
The conference told news reporters that both parties — medics and the government — need to find a settlement without putting the lives of patients at risk.
“Every life is worth than any financial or employment gain. Our health provision is in the hands of the medical fraternity, and we ask both parties to seek dialogue and settle the matter once and for all,” Archbishop Muheria said in remarks attributed to KCCB.
“We believe a mutual position can be reached quickly to end this unnecessary bleeding,” he added.
The bishops decried what they described as a deplorable situation evidenced by the misery of the sick everywhere.
They noted some patients had regrettably lost their lives while others had their health situation deteriorating because of the standoff.
KCCB noted the delayed disbursement of over Sh2 billion in insurance claims owed to Catholic-run hospitals by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) only aggravated the situation.
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