Kimengich: Stop disrupting political rallies ahead of '27

Newly appointed Coadjutor (Assistant) Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Mombasa, Dominic Kimengich, has asked police and rival politicians to stop disrupting political rallies ahead of the next general election.

Kimengich wants the government to safeguard and respect the freedom of association for Kenyans as provided for in the Constitution.

Bishop Kimengich said police should provide security for public meetings and avoid acting contrary to the law by being used to disrupt political gatherings.

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The clergyman regretted the recent incident in Kitengela, Kajiado County, where police hurled tear gas at a rally attended by ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, causing injuries to several people.

“We should not in any way muzzle the freedoms of assembly or association for Kenyans as provided for in the Constitution,” said Kimengich.

Kimengich said violence in politics should not be allowed in the country and that all Kenyans must be able to enjoy the freedom of speech guaranteed by law.

“We are asking our leaders to allow everyone to speak freely and avoid the use of violence to fight each other. Kenya is a mature democracy, and we must tolerate each other’s views,” said Kimengich.

He spoke at a Catholic church in Eldoret after leading Ash Wednesday prayers.

The clergyman asked leaders to focus on problems affecting the lives of Kenyans, such as the troubled education and healthcare systems, instead of dwelling on politics with just over a year to the polls.

Earlier, Kimengich also regretted that entrenched graft has undermined devolution, rendering most counties non-functional.

He said billions of shillings had been channelled to counties under devolution, but there was little in terms of projects to show for the money.

The clergyman said the burden of graft is weighing down on Kenyans, who are suffering without proper government services, yet taxation is at its highest level ever.

“It’s like we devolved corruption and not development because too much money has been sent to the counties for the last decade and yet we cannot see anything done in terms of development,” said Kimengich.

The bishop, who spoke in Elgeyo Marakwet, regretted that it was difficult for qualified Kenyans to get public jobs because of graft in all sectors.

“Those looking for jobs must either have money to buy the jobs or be related to those in positions. That is unfair and immoral because all Kenyans are equal and the jobs are meant for our country,” said Kimengich.

He said corruption was entrenched within the national government, with too much theft and wastage of resources that were supposed to improve ailing sectors such as healthcare and education. The clergyman also regretted that agencies supposed to deal with graft were sleeping on the job, with little being done to arrest and prosecute

He said corruption was entrenched within the national government, with too much theft and wastage of resources that were supposed to improve ailing sectors such as healthcare and education.

The clergyman also regretted that agencies supposed to deal with graft were sleeping on the job, with little being done to arrest and prosecute

those plundering public resources.

“We have the EACC and the police, among other institutions, which are supposed to protect public resources, but they are doing very little to deal with the challenge of corruption,” said Kimengich.

Kimengich has asked those in leadership positions to work for Kenyans and safeguard national resources instead of being part of the problem and focusing on politics that does not benefit citizens.

Last week, Kimengich cautioned about a failing security system, warning of a growing culture of using goons in politics ahead of next year’s general election.

Archbishop Kimengich expressed concern that, in many cases, the goons are allegedly being protected and allowed to operate alongside the police, posing a serious security threat to Kenyans.

The clergyman said the situation, where goons have infiltrated security agencies, is of grave concern and warned that the country risks sliding into anarchy if the government and police fail to dismantle political gangs operating across the country.

Kimengich accused the government of turning a blind eye to the existence of goons, saying the groups are growing stronger by the day.

“We are now faced with a worrying threat caused by goons being hired by politicians and operating with impunity, yet no one is acting against the situation,” he said.

He added that the security situation in the country is increasingly alarming, noting that goons are being misused by politicians for various activities, including raiding churches and assaulting worshippers.

“We cannot have a country where security is in the hands of gangs or goons who have been left to operate freely, yet we have a government in place,” Kimengich said.

He said the level of impunity had reached unacceptable levels and questioned why police were not arresting and prosecuting the goons.

“People are now doing whatever they want, and the country is facing imminent collapse, yet we have security agencies that are supposed to act. We cannot allow such impunity to thrive and destroy this country,” he said.

Bishop Kimengich spoke ahead of his impending exit from Eldoret to take up his new role in Mombasa.