Catholic Bishops Finally Break Silence On Police Instigated Violence in Church
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has condemned the increasing violence and intimidation at houses of worship, warning that such activities weaken constitutional liberties and jeopardize national cohesiveness.
The bishops condemned incidents in which hired goons allegedly disrupted peaceful assemblies, including church services, in the presence of security agents.
They were speaking at the opening of this year’s Lenten Campaign at the Immaculate Conception Shrine in the Lodwar Diocese.
They called for rigorous investigations and prosecutions of those involved in political thuggery, including their backers, and denounced the use of force on defenceless civilians.
“Lobbing tear gas canisters at worshippers inside the church is a gross violation of the constitutional right to worship provided under Article 32 of the Constitution of Kenya,” the bishops said in a joint statement signed by KCCB Chairman, Most Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba.
||Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops statement during the 2026 National launch of Lenten Campaign at Immaculate Conception Shrine, Lodwar||
— KCCB – Catholic Justice & Peace Department (@CJPDKENYA) February 13, 2026
A JUST, PEACEFUL AND UNITED KENYA: UPHOLDING HUMAN DIGNITY.
"Learn to do good. Make Justice your Aim: Redress the wronged, hear the… pic.twitter.com/bleczKLS0Q
“The use of force against unarmed citizens, including women, children, and the elderly, is unacceptable and we unequivocally condemn such heinous acts.”
The bishops raised alarm about rising human rights violations, such as the disproportionate use of force by security authorities, arbitrary arrests, and citizen harassment.
They also worried about the dwindling civic and democratic spaces, stating that true peace cannot exist without justice.
Beyond security issues, the clergy expressed concern about premature political campaigning ahead of the 2027 General Election.
They warned officials against using harsh speech, ethnic profiling, and incitement, citing the risk of escalating tensions.
“This early jostling for positions ahead of the 2027 General Election is disturbing because it is riddled with inflammatory rhetoric, political thuggery and violence,” the bishops stated.
They urged leaders to display restraint and focus on service delivery, emphasizing that public office is a sacred trust, not a means of personal financial gain.
On governance, the bishops cited entrenched corruption, misuse of public resources, weak accountability mechanisms and rising public debt as key challenges facing the country.
They called for strengthened transparency, robust accountability and responsible management of public finances to safeguard both present and future generations.
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The Church also encouraged county and national leaders to uphold human dignity by addressing poverty, unemployment and limited access to essential services such as healthcare, education, water and housing.
Consequently, as the country moves closer to the next electoral cycle, the bishops urged Parliament to fast-track electoral reforms.
They called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to begin early preparations, including nationwide voter education and mass voter registration.
The clergy further encouraged young people to actively participate in civic and political processes, describing youth involvement as critical to national renewal.
Catholic Bishops Finally Break Silence On Police Instigated Violence in Church
![[VIDEO] Robbers Impersonate Traffic Police To Steal Ksh1.9 million From Man Leaving Bank](https://africasnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Nairobi-75-300x177.jpg)
