Religious Leaders Fault Ruto Administration over Rights Abuses, Want DCI Scrapped: "Moral Crisis"

• Catholic bishops accused President William Ruto's government of enabling extrajudicial killings and suppressing dissent through police brutality
• The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said the administration had ignored the struggles of ordinary citizens while rewarding political loyalty
• Anglican bishops in Nyanza also raised alarm over the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, linking it to enforced disappearances and widespread abuse

TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

The Catholic Church has come out swinging, issuing one of its boldest rebukes yet against President William Ruto’s administration over rising police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and state-sponsored intimidation.

On Tuesday, June 24, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), representing all 30 dioceses across the country, released a strongly worded joint statement condemning what they termed as systematic human rights violations.

The bishops said the government had turned a deaf ear to the plight of citizens, choosing instead to unleash fear and injustice through its security apparatus.

The clerics cited the recent killings of activist Albert Ojwang, hawker Boniface Kariuki, and Catholic priests John Maim and Allois Bett as alarming signs of a deepening culture of impunity.

“When those charged with upholding law and order become the source of fear and injustice, it signals a moral crisis in the state,” they stated.

The bishops expressed outrage over how recent youth-led protests, especially those spearheaded by Gen Z demonstrators, were violently suppressed rather than constructively engaged.

According to the KCCB, young Kenyans raising genuine concerns about issues such as unemployment, corruption, and burdensome taxation had instead faced abductions, harassment, and deadly force.

“Our young people are not enemies of the state,” the bishops said. “They are citizens with valid concerns who should be heard and supported.”

They went on to criticise the selective application of justice and politicisation of development. They said state resources were being used as tools to reward political loyalty, while essential sectors like education, health, and youth empowerment remained neglected.

Why the church wants DCI disbanded

In a related development, a delegation of Anglican bishops from the Nyanza region also voiced similar concerns, calling for the immediate disbandment of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

During a press briefing held at the New Cathedral Church in Kisumu on Thursday, June 20, the bishops accused the DCI of operating like a rogue unit, fuelling fear among Kenyans through intimidation, enforced disappearances, and unlawful killings.

Maseno South Bishop Charles Onginjo, who led the group, said the situation had become intolerable, especially in their region, where many residents no longer felt safe or represented.

“The government’s silence is only deepening the fear and mistrust among citizens.When it reaches a point where people see the police as enemy number one, then you know we have lost the nation to lawlessness,” Onginjo said.

The Anglican leaders also turned their spotlight on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), accusing the watchdog body of failing to deliver justice or accountability in cases involving police misconduct and loss of life.

They branded IPOA as ineffective and misleading, urging law enforcement officers to resist unlawful orders and urging Ruto to intervene and restore discipline within security forces.

What did Raila say about the church?

In a related story covered by TUKO.co.ke, ODM leader Raila Odinga criticised church leaders for what he described as selective concern over police brutality.

He accused them of staying silent during the 2023 protests, when several young Kenyans lost their lives, yet only speaking out now when it seems politically convenient.

Raila recalled how churches turned away mourners who wanted to pray for victims of police violence.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke