The government cannot hide from the truth

Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Chairman Maurice Muhatia (seated centre), Bishop Alfred Rotich (left) and Bishop Dominic Kimengich (right) and other bishops during a media briefing in Nairobi, on November 14, 2024. [Benard Orwongo Standard]

A few weeks back I argued that President William Ruto is quickly running into a dictator's information problem - whereby his underlings have an incentive to keep lying to him in order to demonstrate their loyalty. If anyone doubted the president's predicament, the government's reaction to the statement from Catholic Bishops on Thursday should put the matter to rest. The Church merely pointed out facts that are common knowledge to all thinking Kenyans. The government's word can longer be trusted. Too many Kenyans are getting abducted and some killed by state agents. The economy is on its knees. Taxes are too high, only matched by the high levels of graft and incompetence by senior members of the Kenya Kwanza administration. These are basic facts that no one can hide from.

What did we get from the government in response? A barrage of statements from different offices that betrayed the government's insecurity about its position.