Catholic bishops have called on the government to re-examine recently enacted laws that could endanger individual freedoms. The bishops, through their umbrella organisation, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), also called for prompt payment to hospitals under the new health scheme and encouraged Kenyan youth to register to vote ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on November 13 in Nairobi, the bishops stated that the contested Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, delayed payments to faith-based hospitals under the Social Health Authority (SHA), and low voter registration present urgent moral and civil challenges that demand government accountability and citizen action.

“We raise serious concerns about the way the law on the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, and the Land Amendment Act No. 21 of 2025, were crafted and enacted in a hurry. Kenyans have raised substantial concerns about the Amendments, which were signed into law,” the bishops noted.

They strongly recommended a necessary review to prevent misuse that could undermine the very freedoms they aimed to protect. “Meaningful public participation would be necessary. The fears Kenyans have expressed regarding these new laws should not be dismissed.” There are also concerns that the new law could be misused to suppress civil liberties, particularly freedom of expression and digital advocacy.

The bishops stated that Kenyans deserve to be heard and, where appropriate, for corrective measures to be taken. It appears that the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act could be exploited to silence government critics, breach the right to privacy, or even manipulate the electoral process. They also cautioned against any government effort to control religion through proposed legislation. “The same can be expressed about the Religious Organisation Bill. While certain legislation is necessary, the government should never be seen as attempting to regulate religion.”

Delayed Payments 

The Catholic bishops criticised payments to hospitals, particularly faith-based institutions, which they said are struggling to operate due to unpaid government claims. They stated that the medical scheme cannot survive if health providers – hospitals – are not paid promptly and adequately for the services they provide to patients. “The lingering inefficiencies of SHA will eventually cost us dearly. We, the Catholic Bishops, still await the payment of all pending arrears owed to our hospitals, any other faith-based hospital, and private hospitals across the country, which are unable to offer basic services due to unpaid or delayed payments. We ask that the matter of huge uncleared NHIF dues be fast-tracked and paid by the government. Many faith-based hospitals are on the brink of closing due to unpaid claims,” they said.

Voter Registration

The bishops also urged the youth to view voter registration and participation as an act of faith and civic duty, describing it as a “peaceful and constructive way to shape Kenya’s future through the electoral process.” They stated that lasting change is achieved through both civic engagement and democratic involvement. “Every young person’s vote is a voice of hope for a more accountable, inclusive, and compassionate nation. We therefore strongly encourage all eligible youth to register.” 

Registering to vote is a vital step in correcting and reforming the various institutions and organs of government. On November 13, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Anne Nderitu announced that the commission had only registered 100,000 new voters, well below the target of 6.8 million.

The Commissioner attributed this to various factors that affect citizens’ ability and willingness to register, highlighting the cultural and logistical challenges involved. According to Commissioner Nderitu, a primary reason is the deep-rooted culture among many Kenyans of waiting until the last minute to complete important tasks. She stated that many Kenyans assume there is still time to register and thus delay the process, resulting in low early turnout. She stressed that this habit must be addressed to facilitate smoother registration without long queues and last-minute rushes.

KCCB is a permanent organisation that promotes the common good of society by focusing on various apostolates and engaging in national issues, including development aid, social services, and advocacy on matters of national concern. KCCB’s authority lies with the ordinary and extraordinary plenary assembly. Currently, there are 28 Catholic jurisdictions across Kenya, divided into four metropolitan provinces, comprising four archdioceses, 23 dioceses, and one military ordinariate.

In July, the church stated it would not be silenced amid poor leadership, affirming the Catholic church’s dedication to continue advocating for Kenyans despite challenges such as poverty, inequality, youth unemployment, and a lack of transparency in government.

The Catholic bishops have emphasised the importance of the church’s voice in societal issues, stating that the Catholic church always speaks out and holds leaders accountable for the social injustices occurring under any given regime.