Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has come out in support of the Catholic Church following remarks by Archbishop Anthony Muheria criticizing the government’s approach to governance.
Speaking in Bungoma on February 22, 2025, Salasya praised the church for stepping up as the voice of the people, arguing that Parliament has failed in its duty to represent ordinary citizens.
“I want to thank the Catholic Church because we have a Parliament that has refused to do its job. Parliament was elected to defend ordinary citizens, but we have a Parliament that has failed to speak up on the issues that Kenyans want to hear,” Salasya said.
The vocal legislator applauded the Catholic Church, stating that the Holy Spirit had inspired its leaders to speak on behalf of Kenyans.
“That’s why we’ve seen the Catholic Church step up. I want to thank the Holy Spirit that has manifested in the Catholic Church to speak and voice the concerns of citizens. Let’s applaud the church,” Salasya stated.
Archbishop’s criticism
Salasya’s remarks come in the wake of Archbishop Muheria’s sharp criticism of the government, in which he accused it of focusing too much on publicity rather than actual service delivery.
“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.
The Nyeri archbishop further urged the government to prioritize action over words, particularly in critical sectors such as poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and economic stability.
“We must transition from government advertisement to actual governance. Stop publicizing what you intend to do and what you claim to have done, and instead roll up your sleeves and deliver,” he added.
Government’s defence
Speaking at a funeral in Kilifi on February 21, 2025, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula suggested that Archbishop Muheria had misinterpreted the Constitution.
He defended the necessity for the government to showcase its projects to the public, ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.
“When you say government is not an advertising agency, it means you have not read the Constitution of Kenya, because the Constitution states that the people of Kenya are central and must know and participate in everything we do,” Wetang’ula said.
“So as a government, we have a duty to continue broadcasting whatever we do for all Kenyans to know from Vanga to Lokichogio, from Malava to Lamu,” he added.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also defended the government’s communication strategy, comparing it to practices in developed nations.
“Calling the government an advertising agency is misleading the public,” he stated.
He warned that without such updates, Kenyans would later claim they were sidelined in key decisions affecting their lives.
“Even in America, Trump must explain to his people what he wants to do. In Britain, they explain. Therefore, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure it communicates with the citizens of this nation for development to continue. We might propose development projects, but you might not want them,” Mudavadi explained.
Leave a Reply