Catholic bishops condemn President Ruto, opposition over ‘verbal indiscipline’

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has criticised the country’s leadership over what it describes as rising cases of “verbal indiscipline,” warning that the trend is embarrassing the nation and undermining public confidence in leadership.

KCCB chairman Most Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba said Kenyans deserve better governance, calling on political leaders to exercise restraint and uphold integrity in their public conduct.

Speaking during the reception of Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Mwongela following the retirement of Norman King’oo, Muhatia urged leaders to embrace decorum, noting that their utterances have far-reaching consequences on society.

“We want to call for restraint and decorum in public speaking and we call upon leaders, especially political leaders, to exercise restraint. The children listening to you are shocked, the young people listening to you are traumatised because in you is represented the collapse of their aspiration for leadership,” he said.

“The adults listening to you are embarrassed; you are a poor representation of our generation, Please exercise restraint. This country belongs to more than 50 million Kenyans and not only to yourselves.”

The bishops took issue with the growing trend of public insults among political leaders, urging them to engage respectfully even when they disagree.

“The verbal indiscipline we are experiencing is indicative of something worse. Please let us respect each other as our respect for our fellow brothers and sisters. You can disagree with people without insulting them,” Muhatia added.

In a pointed remark directed at top political figures, the clergy called on leaders to take their disputes away from the public.

“If you want to insult each other, look for some bunker underground in the earth, go there, insult each other, and when you finish, come back and join us in nation building,” he said.

Muhatia further cautioned leaders against reckless speech, stressing the need for responsibility in public discourse.

“Not everything that crosses your mind must drop on your lips. Your opinions are not only to yourselves. The verbal indiscipline we are experiencing is indicative of something worse. Please, let us respect each other," Muhatia stated.

The event, attended by Catholic bishops from across the country, underscored the church’s call for accountable and ethical leadership amid rising political tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In one of the lowest moments of political campaigning in Kenya, the country’s top leaders have been descending into mudslinging, name-calling, body-shaming, raw insults and generally indecent language. 

President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua led the pack in what now ranks among the most embarrassing performances ever recorded in the history of the country’s top offices. 

Twenty civil society organisations have sharply condemned the conduct of the president, describing it as profane and divisive public utterances, warning that the remarks undermine the dignity of the presidency.

Ruto has defiantly said he is unapologetic while defending his latest outburst against opposition leaders, saying he is not apologetic and is ready to take them head-on.