By Eddah Waithaka
The Anglican Church has objected to the impending impeachment strategy targeting Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, advocating that President William Ruto proactively engage in dialogues with his deputy to effectively quell the escalating conflicts within the government.
Speaking at a press conference of the Standing committee of the provincial synod of the Anglican church, Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit said he was concerned about the current political activities that have led to a dysfunctional presidency putting the president against his deputy. This, he said, has created unnecessary political tension throughout the country.
“We urge the president and his deputy to embrace dialogue and mutual respect to foster unity for the development of our beloved country,” the archbishop said.
“Ours is a call for dialogue, impeachment is not a solution because according to the constitutional framework, the kind of presidency we have today is a joint presidency where the two are elected in the same election and I don’t think impeachment is the way forward. Let the two sit and talk as they did before the elections,” he added.
Additionally, Sapit highlighted that the church has observed issues of negative ethnicity, nepotism, and discrimination in government appointments at both the national and county levels, which pose a threat to efforts aimed at achieving national cohesion.
“We urge the government to prioritize professionalism over nepotism in all areas of public service and governance. By emphasizing merit-based appointments, we can ensure that capable and qualified individuals are placed in positions of responsibility, ultimately leading to improved efficiency and accountability,” he noted.
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Commenting on the controversial Religious Organizations Bill sponsored by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, the Archbishop said the Church has rejected it: “We note that there is a Religious Organizations Bill before the Senate which seeks to regulate the activities of churches in Kenya. The mission of the Church is enshrined in the constitutions of the respective religious organizations and any attempt to enact a law that interferes with the operations of the Church is unacceptable.”
“We therefore oppose the bill and call for its withdrawal. There was no public participation where the Church was involved, then it should be withdrawn, then the Church is part of the discussion before it is presented in the Senate”.
The proposed legislation, introduced to the Senate on September 11, aims to establish a legal structure for the regulation and registration of religious organizations. Should it be enacted, churches will be obligated to pay taxes on any income, gifts, or profits derived from legitimate activities. Under the provisions of the Bill, taxable revenue will only be exempt if it is fully dedicated to charitable purposes.
During the shift from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF to the Social Health Authority (SHA), Sapit mentioned that no contracts have been distributed so far. He emphasized that health facilities need to thoroughly examine and evaluate the proposed terms and packages before finalizing any agreements. Additionally, he urged the government to conclude the registration period before the anticipated end of September, in preparation for the rollout scheduled for October 1.
“It seems impossible to accomplish the transition in the remaining days, so we recommend that the government extend the start date to allow for adequate preparation and transition,” he said.
“We are concerned by past experience where such a transition has resulted in the loss of information and hospital claims from the system. We seek assurances from the Government and the SHA that all outstanding unpaid claims will be promptly recognized and paid,” the Archbishop said.
