• Lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi has criticized the Kenyan government’s reaction to a statement by Catholic bishops, calling it overreactive and unproductive.
• The lawyer suggested that the government should either address the bishops’ criticism or ignore it and focus on delivering for Kenyans
• The lawyer described the government’s response as stiff and belligerent, and considered it counterproductive and self-serving
• The Catholic bishops had previously expressed concern, prompting a strong reaction from the government, sparking public debate

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has over three years of experience in coverage policy and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi – Prominent city lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi has taken aim at President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of mishandling criticism from Catholic bishops.

Ahmednassir described the government’s response as an own goal, calling for introspection rather than combative rebuttals.

The controversy erupted on Thursday, November 14 when the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) released a strongly worded statement condemning alleged inefficiency and corruption within Kenya Kwanza government.

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The priests did not mince words, pointing fingers at various government applications and agencies for their inefficiency and entrenched graft.

The bishops’ criticism, unprecedented in its intensity, reverberated across the political landscape, prompting a quick and aggressive reactions from government officials.

Government members, chief secretaryand other officials issued statements against the allegations, sparking a heated public debate.

Why is Ahmednasir disappointed with the government

Ahmednassir, known for his views on political issues, expressed disappointment with the government’s approach, which he argued reinforced the bishops’ criticism instead of neutralizing it.

The lawyer urged the administration to either acknowledges the legitimacy of the concerns or focus on delivering results rather than engaging in a counterproductive exchange.

“The government of Kenya is overreacting in its response to the statement by the Catholic bishops. If the bishops are being truthful, take the criticism on board and correct yourself. If the statement is not true, ignore it and leave it to the people of Kenya. . . but the broken and bellicose response of the government is, in my humble opinion, a goal of its own,” the lawyer noted.

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How did Ruto react to Catholic priests

As reported, Ruto indirectly took over the Catholic senior priests who criticized his administration.

While addressing students of Tangaza University on Friday, November 15, the President called out the men of the cloth for criticizing his administration from a point of ignorance.

He said that while the views of the bishops on critical issues are welcomed, they should speak the truth based on knowledge, not hearsay.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke