President William Ruto on Friday, April 12, held a meeting with the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) at State House in Nairobi.
The meeting was convened to address the pressing issues raised by the Catholic Bishops during their presser on April 11.
During the meeting, the head of state acknowledged and lauded the clergy for its support in the government’s development agenda categorically in the health and education sectors.
President Ruto vowed to collaborate with the religious leaders in a bid to strengthen the country’s governance.
“The church is a valuable partner in our development agenda. We appreciate their input in the health and education sectors and look forward to working together to strengthen our country’s governance,” the head of state pronounced.
The meeting came a day after the bishops raised concerns on various concerns with the clergy calling on quick action by the government.
Among the issues raised by the KCCB included the unwarranted hike in the permit charge fee for missionaries which was allegedly raised to Ksh150,000 from Ksh15,000.
In a presser held in Karen, Nairobi the bishops urged the government to reconsider its take on the levy and scrap it off.
“We as a country should be showing gratitude and appreciation. So giving waivers to priests, religious men and women and other social missionary volunteers come to complement our social engagement,” read part of a statement by the KCCB.
The bishops also called for an immediate resolution to the ongoing doctors’ strike. KCCB in its statement urged the striking doctors to put patients first.
"We urge the government on one hand, and the doctors on the other hand to seek a working arrangement that does not put the lives of patients at risk so that lives are not lost," the bishops stated.
Other issues that were raised by the clergy include the repayment of the Ksh2 billion debt the govt owed to the Catholic-led hospitals.
