Mudavadi claps back at Bishop Muheria for calling govt an advertising agency
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has come out swinging against Catholic Diocese of Nyeri’s Archbishop Anthony Muheria, slamming his remarks that the government is overhyping its projects instead of delivering.
Mudavadi dismissed the bishop’s statements as misleading and unfair, arguing that the administration is simply engaging in public participation to keep Kenyans informed about ongoing development efforts.
Speaking on Friday, February 21, 2025, in Kilifi County during the burial of Mzee Kingi Mwaruwa, Mudavadi took a jab at Muheria, insisting that keeping citizens updated on government projects is a necessary duty, not an unnecessary publicity stunt.
He said informing the public about national developments was standard practice even in global powers like the U.S. and the U.K., adding that failing to do so would only lead to accusations of dictatorship in the future.
“Kwa hivyo, kuita serikali kama advertising agency ni kupotosha wananchi,” he declared.
The PCS emphasised that communication is key in governance and likened it to practices by global leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, who frequently addressed the public about his administration’s plans.
He warned that without such updates, Kenyans would later claim they were sidelined in key decisions affecting their lives.
“Hata kule Amerika lazima Trump aeleze watu wake anataka kufanya nini. Ukienda Uingereza, wanaeleza. Kwa hivyo, ni jukumu la serikali kuhakikisha inazungumza na wananchi wa taifa hili, ndiyo baadaye waendelee na maendeleo. Tunaweza kusema tujenge hapa, lakini nyinyi hamtaki,” he said.
Muheria shades government
Mudavadi’s remarks come as a direct counter to the blistering criticism Muheria had earlier unleashed on the government, where he called out the administration for focusing more on publicity than actual service delivery.
The revered archbishop had earlier on lamented that the government had become obsessed with making noise about its plans instead of rolling up its sleeves and getting the job done.
“There has to be less rhetoric. We have to stop advertising and act. The government seems to be preoccupied with showcasing projects and plans, but governance is not about promotions—it is about execution. That is what we need to see,” Muheria stated.
He tore into what he termed an administration that had placed more focus on optics rather than substance, warning that Kenya could not afford to be run like a billboard campaign.
He said the country needed leadership that was committed to delivering results in key sectors, not one that was constantly engaged in self-promotion.
“We must transition from government advertisement to actual governance. Stop publicising what you intend to do and what you claim to have done, and instead roll up your sleeves and deliver. We have professionals, experts, and resources that can drive real progress, particularly in critical areas such as poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and economic stability,” he said.
Muheria also decried the rising political hostility in the country, saying leaders needed to tone down the insults and focus on uniting Kenyans. He called for an end to divisive politics, saying national growth could only happen if leaders valued collaboration over constant political battles.
“How I wish we could abandon this obsession with advertisements, this endless noise, the insults, and the petty political squabbles. Instead, we should embrace genuine progress—valuing expertise, appreciating contributions, and working together to uplift our nation. There is nothing Kenya cannot achieve if we focus on action instead of words,” he added.
Failed SHA
The archbishop had also gone further to tear into the government’s recently introduced Social Health Authority (SHA), branding it a failure that had only deepened the crisis in Kenya’s healthcare system.
He accused the administration of refusing to acknowledge the program’s flaws, saying its continued defence of SHA was proof that the government was not listening to the struggles of ordinary Kenyans.
“We are still operating in an extremely constrained healthcare system. The reimbursements that were supposed to transition seamlessly from the now-defunct NHIF to SHA are simply not functioning. Hospitals are not receiving these payments in time,” he revealed.
Muheria painted a grim picture of Catholic hospitals struggling under immense financial strain due to the government’s failure to meet its obligations.
He disclosed that the Nyeri Catholic hospital alone is owed Ksh250M, while Catholic hospitals nationwide are burdened with outstanding payments totalling Ksh2.6B.
“We cry out, we appeal, yet we receive nothing but vague, noncommittal responses. Sometimes we are told we complain too much or that we exaggerate. But in any serious institution, a debt of Ksh250M is crippling—it brings operations to a halt. And yet, despite this, we have continued to provide healthcare services,” he stated.
The archbishop stressed that rhetoric alone would not fix the healthcare system, urging the government to acknowledge the failures of SHA and commit to real solutions.
“We need to see a functional system, not just hear lofty statements. Reimbursements and payments must be made. It is disheartening that instead of addressing these pressing issues, we continue to bury our heads in the sand,” he concluded.
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