ACK Bishop accuses Ruto of deluding Nyanza with CS appointments

ACK Bishop Charles Ong'injo of Maseno South Diocese. [File, Standard]  

A bishop from Nyanza has stirred controversy following his criticisms against President William Ruto's administration.

Anglican Bishop Charles Ong'injo of Maseno South Diocese has been on the receiving end of Kenya Kwanza-allied politicians after he alleged that Nyanza was getting a raw deal in its relationship with President Ruto

Bishop Onginjo, who was giving a sermon during the requiem mass of the late Hannington Raburu Juma at St. Stephen's Anglican in Milimani, Kisumu, noted that the community had little to show since its inclusion in government.

He criticized leaders from Nyanza who are supporting the government and claimed they had turned into praise and worship and are celebrating positions instead of working for the people.

"We only have two cabinet secretaries, and we cannot sleep because there is too much noise that we are in the government. What are you delivering now that you are there? You have become a choir and chorus," he said.

He further accused President William Ruto of hoodwinking the community.

"This is not the first time the Nyanza people have occupied positions in the cabinet. During the years of the late Aloo Aringo and Odongo Omamo, and others who were occupying those positions, we had over six cabinet positions. But today, we hear about this cabinet issue every other day, that now Luos are in a government that is helping them, yet our people are not benefiting from those positions," he said.

He also criticised President Ruto's move to treat the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to a state funeral, claiming that this should not make the community forget the ills his government has done them.

"When you die and you are given a state funeral, everyone follows you because you have been given a state funeral. You are not wise, our people," he warned.

He recalled that the Nyanza community had been told that President Ruto rigged himself to power with the same leaders who were now supporting him.

 "Remember, we were told that President Ruto rigged himself to that office. What has changed? What happened to the votes that were stolen? He questioned.

In the region, among those working in Ruto's cabinet are John Mbadi (Treasury CS) and Opiyo Wandayi, who served as the CS for Energy.

He accused President William Ruto's government of maiming more Kenyans than previous governments.

"If people are not dying of stress, people are being abducted and cannot be found, high cost of living. Our people have been hoodwinked and are now singing songs we don't understand," he said.