'Gov't is not an advertising agency!' Archbishop Muheria slams Ruto administration

Nyeri Archbishop Anthony Muheria has called on President William Ruto's administration to focus on fulfilling its promises that still remain unkept and desist from turning the government into an advertising agency.

Speaking to the press at the Consolata Mathari Hospital on Friday, the Archbishop stated that the State is notorious for pouring all its resources into talking about its projects instead of actually implementing them.

"There has to be less rhetoric. We have to stop advertising what you will do. Act! The government is not an advertising agency. It is an agency that implements actions, that’s what we want to see," he said.

"We want a government that follows rules and systems, not one that puts all its machinery into advertising. How I wish we could shelve all these insults, noise and demeaning statements and begin to appreciate one another."

Muheria also poked holes into the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, citing that the system is still not working hence has left the country's medical services in limbo.

"In spite of the efforts we're trying to make to improve the health services, we're still constrained by the payments from the defunct NHIF and SHA. Unfortunately, the systems are still not working," he noted.

"We still have over Ksh.250 million owed to us (Consolata Mathari Hospital) by the government. This has been for the last four years. We plead, and cry but seem to get non-committal responses."

Hours after Muheria's remarks, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi defended the government; noting that informing the public is vital to update them on the progress and policies that will be implemented. 

"The government's role involves public participation. Some don't want us to do so. It's not possible. According to the Constitution, there's a must we engage in public participation and inform people of what is being done," Mudavadi explained. 

"Hence calling a government, an advertising agency is misleading Kenyans. It's the government's responsibility to talk to its citizens."

The Ruto administration pegged on the church to ascend to power in 2022; christening himself as the saviour of the masses. 

However, the two institutions are seemingly on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of policies and governance; with the church continuously accusing the State of being out of touch with reality.