Cleric accuses Ruto government of perpetrating goonsim, impunity

Youth storm Nyandiwa shopping centre in Homa Bay County after goons attacked Linda Mwananchi convoy. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

A cleric at the Taita Taveta Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Diocese has accused President William Ruto’s administration of perpetrating goonism and impunity in the country.

The Diocese Administrative Secretary (AS) Stephen Norman Satale warned that leaders will face the wrath of God for the way the country was being governed.

Rev Satale said that nepotism in government appointments was rife while the poor and qualified children were not given jobs.

He regretted that the country was witnessing increased insecurity, massive destruction of property, bloodshed and senseless deaths of innocent Kenyans, raising serious questions about the integrity and accountability of the government in protecting citizens from politically instigated violence.

“What country are we living in? There is no democracy in Kenya as the government does not entertain divergent views from the opposition and people they are governing,” he said.

The AS was preaching during the funeral service of the former County Education Executive Jemimah Kambe Tuja at ACK St Paul’s Church grounds in Werugha location in Taita Sub County.

In his sermon, the cleric claimed senior government officials had grabbed land with impunity and refused to give poor children jobs.

 “The State officials are giving jobs to their friends, political cronies and relatives. Elected leaders should know that they were given power to change the lives of the people and not to silence or exploit them to achieve their selfish interests,” the AS told hundreds of mourners.

“I have been sent by the Diocese Bishop Rev Liverson Mng’onda to give this message to those in power that there are government executives who are Satan and are not doing the right things to Kenyans. The government is sliding into lawlessness and violence ahead of the next polls with no one to protect Kenyans.

“Kenyans have been left alone as the country has of late witnessed a trail of destruction, bloodshed and senseless deaths of innocent people from politically instigated violence with security apparatus unwilling to act,” he told mourners.

Last Saturday, the Bishop urged a bereaved family in Mbololo location to reject Sh600,000 donated by President Ruto and Taveta MP John Bwire.

Satale said that Mwai Kibaki’s administration was the only one that was accountable to Kenyans.

Elected leaders who attended the funeral service were Senator Jones Mwaruma, Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako, former Governors Granton Samboja and John Mruttu and retired ACK Bishop Samson Mwaluda.

“The late Kibaki’s government did not grab land; send government goons to disrupt opposition political rallies. The former administration had no bad history, likening it to people’s deaths, grabbing public land  and messing up with the country’s economy as is being witnessed today where corruption and impunity are the order of the day,” Rev Satale told the mourners.

He at the same time told authorities that the former Congo President, the late Mobutu Sese Seko, was one of the richest men in the World, who grabbed mineral resources from his people but did not find peace. He later died in France and was buried in Morocco, Satale told mourners.

The cleric warned Kenyan leaders that dictatorial tendencies have no place in the World.

“When given a political position to lead, make sure that people feel you are like the late Jemimah who had an illustrious career.  And when you die today the people will celebrate you,” said Satale. He said he was a preacher of the season, giving Kenyans hope that all will be well if Kenyans depend on God and not leaders.

Further, the AS advised couples against committing adultery, which he said was against the doctrines of God.

Satale condemned some men for spending their resources with prostitutes in urban areas, leaving their families to suffer at their rural homes.

“Do not joke around with your family. When the former DP Rigathi Gachagua was voted out, he was left alone in hospital as his security detail and vehicles were withdrawn. It is only his family that stood behind him. People stay with you when you have value,” he told the faithful.

Mruttu described the Jemimah who served during the pioneer administration as a dedicated, true public servant. He told mourners that under her stewardship, the deceased established the county education fund, providing bursaries to needy secondary-school students and loans to students in college.