Murang’a Catholic Bishop Maria Wainaina has criticized government officials for manipulating public policies for selfish gain, stating that corruption continues to derail efforts meant to improve Kenyans’ lives. Speaking during a thanksgiving event at the Kirinyaga County Assembly, the Bishop emphasized that while the country has strong policies, their impact is limited by corrupt and self-serving implementation. He also condemned the national government for withholding funds meant for counties, a move he says is crippling key devolved services such as healthcare.
Bishop Wainaina urged both levels of government to strictly adhere to constitutional mandates, ensuring they respect each other’s functions. County leaders echoed these concerns, with Speaker Muteti Murimi and Deputy Speaker Jinaro Njamumo warning that devolution is under threat due to delayed disbursement of funds. Njamumo decried the fact that counties are now forced to borrow at high interest rates to pay salaries, and development projects are stalling. He also criticized the national government for encroaching on county roles and slashing local budgets, including a Sh198 million cut from road allocations.
