KISUMU, Kenya —The National Council of Spiritual Churches (NCSC) has called upon President William Ruto to take decisive action against corrupt government officials.
This urgent appeal, made on Thursday, aims to restore public confidence in his administration and address the growing discontent among Kenyans burdened by the high cost of living.
Cardinal Elijah Onyango, the NCSC chairman, highlighted the pervasive corruption within the public service, noting that some officials live in blatant opulence while the majority of citizens struggle financially.
Speaking at the Onjiko Mission headquarters in Kisumu, Onyango emphasized that the lavish lifestyles of some officials are eroding trust in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“The public service is tainted with corruption, with some officials exhibiting opulence as the rest of the country continues to struggle with the high cost of living,” Onyango stated.
He urged the president to act swiftly and decisively by sacking all officials implicated in corruption, extending the purge to the cabinet to ensure only individuals of integrity hold public office.
Onyango lamented the trend of government positions being viewed as opportunities for personal enrichment.
He cited instances of newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and governors amassing wealth that far exceeds their official earnings.
“You find a first-term MP driving a car worth millions of shillings, which is way beyond their salary. Some governors now own palatial homes worth billions of shillings, far beyond what they earn,” he noted.
The cardinal warned that such corruption is depriving the government of crucial resources needed for development projects.
He stressed the urgency for President Ruto to align with public sentiment and tackle corruption head-on.
“Corruption is killing this country. The cost of living is up because of corruption. The government is increasing taxes every year because of corruption,” Onyango declared.
Addressing the recent Generation Z anti-government protests, Onyango called on the president to heed the grievances of the youth and take appropriate action to ensure peace prevails.
He also criticized the police’s handling of the protests and demanded the removal of the Inspector General of Police, holding him accountable for the loss of young lives during the demonstrations.
