• A statement that seemed to have sent shockwaves across all government departments, including the House on the Hill, had created trouble in government.  In what seemed like an effort by the President to control the situation, he attended the Church service for three consecutive days in different parts of the country. In Embu, while attending the ordination and installation of Bishop Peter Kimani as the Bishop of the Embu Diocese.  President Ruto was met with hostility as the crowd became relentless. 

The Catholic Church is one of the oldest and largest churches. Its existence is equated to that of a government. The might of the Catholic Church was felt after the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) released a statement condemning the conduct of the government.

A statement that seemed to have sent shockwaves across all government departments, including the House on the Hill, had created trouble in government. In what seemed like an effort by the President to control the situation, he attended the Church service for three consecutive days in different parts of the country.

In Embu, while attending the ordination and installation of Bishop Peter Kimani as the Bishop of the Embu Diocese, President William Ruto was met with hostility as the crowd became relentless.

On Sunday, November 17, 2024, President Ruto cancelled his attendance at the Embu Diocese and attended service at the Soweto Catholic church in Nairobi, where he donated ksh 5.6 million.

We sort to understand the power and influence of the Catholic Church in Kenya and why the Church statement had such a great impact. The Catholic Church accounts for about 10 million followers in Kenya. Supported by an intense state of Roma, the Catholic Church is headed by an Apostolic Nuncio who acts as the representative of the pope in Kenya.

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Additionally, the Catholic Church has invested in social amenities, which have contributed to the close relationship between the Church and the people. In Kenya, the Church runs over 7,000 schools, representing over 30% of the total schools in Kenya.

Their schools have attracted even non-followers due to their best performances, schools such as Bura Girls, Star of the Sea Mombasa, Loreto High Schools Limuru, Msongari and Valley Road, Precious Blood Riruta, Maryhill School Thika, Mang'u High School, Huruma Girls, St Mary's Msongari, Strathmore School among others.

Moreover, the Catholic Church runs tertiary institutions such as  Mwangaza College, Tangaza University and Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), among others.

The Church has also focused on the healthcare sector, operating major hospitals that offer specialized treatment, like the Matter Hospital, known for Heart treatment, St. Mary's Mission Hospital in Nairobi, and Elementaita, Our Lady of Lourdes Mutomo Hospital in Kitui, Christa Marianne Mission Hospital in Kisii, among others.

Furthermore, the Church disseminates information by running various media outlets such as Amani Radio and the Tumaini among others.

In hardship, the Church provides basic needs to the people, such as food. During services, the priest attends with foodstuffs, such as maize and beans, among others. This builds more trust between the people and the Church.

The Church's influence on governance and politics has been felt in Kenya for a long since the tenure of former president Daniel Moi. The Church was at the forefront of advocating for multiparty democracy in Kenya.

In conclusion, the Catholic Church has reinstated its moral authority on issues of governance and politics. Their statement gave light to other churches who also stood up to support the Bishop's sentiments, which painted the Church as taking the position of the Government watchdog.