President William Ruto’s administration is facing a blistering storm of criticism from Kenya's top religious leaders, who have accused the government of betraying its solemn promises to the nation's youth and fostering a crisis of governance.

In a series of escalating rebukes, a powerful coalition of church bodies, including the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), has declared Kenya a "sick nation" suffering from poor leadership and a deep disconnect from the daily struggles of its citizens. This unified condemnation from the pulpit signals a significant moral and political challenge to the Kenya Kwanza government, questioning its core commitment to the millions of young people who formed a critical part of its voter base.

A Litany of Broken Promises

At the heart of the clergy's discontent is the government's perceived failure to deliver on its ambitious pledges to empower the youth. During the 2022 campaign, President Ruto made sweeping promises that are now, according to critics, coming back to haunt his administration.

Key among the grievances cited by religious and civil society leaders are:

• Job Creation: A promise to inject Sh100 billion to create four million youth jobs remains largely unfulfilled, leaving a generation in limbo.
• The Hustler Fund: While launched with a Sh50 billion budget, many users have complained that the average loan of Sh500 is insufficient to start a meaningful business, with high default rates plaguing the programme.
• Leadership Roles: A pledge to allocate 30 percent of all appointive government positions to young people has not been met, fueling disillusionment.
• Punitive Taxes: Church leaders have warned that draconian laws and policies, including the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), are suffocating businesses, killing jobs, and making citizens poorer.

This sentiment is deeply rooted in Kenya's harsh economic reality. The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) estimates that the youth unemployment rate stands at a staggering 67%, a figure that puts immense pressure on families and the very fabric of society.

Governance by 'Untruths'

Beyond economic policy, the church has launched a scathing critique of the administration's character, accusing it of entrenching a "culture of lies" and misinformation. In a statement, the NCCK lamented that the challenges facing Kenya are a direct result of citizens believing narratives peddled by those seeking power. This follows an earlier, equally harsh assessment from Catholic Bishops who faulted the government for human rights violations, runaway corruption, and a failure to address extrajudicial killings, particularly during youth-led protests.

The church's role as the nation's conscience has been a historical constant, and leaders emphasized this is not the first time they have spoken out against poor governance. "In every regime, the Church speaks," noted Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe, pushing back against any suggestion that their criticism is partisan.

State House Pushes Back

President Ruto’s administration has not taken the criticism lightly. The President has directly responded to the clergy, urging them to be factual lest they "become victims of the things we accuse others of doing." In public addresses, he has called for collaboration between the government and religious leaders, cautioning against misinformation that could destabilize the nation.

Despite the pushback, the church remains resolute. Leaders from various denominations have expressed their commitment to continue highlighting the plight of Kenyans facing economic hardship and a bleak future. The ongoing tension sets the stage for a protracted struggle over the narrative of the nation's direction, with the government's promises on one side and the lived reality of its youth on the other.