Focus on service delivery, Babu Owino tells Ruto

By Peter Ochieng

Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino wants President William Ruto and his troops in Kenya Kwanza to focus on service delivery.

The vocal legislature in a statement said many Kenyans are facing numerous challenges economically, urging the government of the day to save them from economic challenges.

He accused Ruto’s administration of reactionary responses to issues raised by Kenyans, specially a Thursday press statement by Kenya Catholic Conference of Bishops (KCCB) that called out the Head of State for leading a government ‘full of lies and unkept promises.’

“I wish to address the disheartening and reactionary response of the Kenya Kwanza Administration towards the constructive criticism recently offered by the Catholic Church,” said Owino.

The lawmaker wondered what changed from the campaign days when Ruto and his backers sought for the church for wisdom, guidance, and prayers to now when the church is being castigated for speaking truth to power.

“The Catholic Church, and the faith community at large, are pillars of our society. They are the custodians of our moral fabric and the social contract that binds us together as a people,” stated the MP.

“When the church speaks, it does so with the interest of the common mwananchi at heart, and it is both prudent and necessary for them to voice concerns when the government deviates from its mandate to serve the people.”

The MP said instead of engaging in a flurry of defensive press releases and attempts to discredit the church, the Kenya Kwanza Administration should heed the call for reflection and corrective action.

“Accountability cannot be brushed aside through well-scripted statements; it requires concrete steps towards addressing the growing economic hardship, the rising cost of living, and the widespread discontent in the nation,” he added.

“Let the Government understand this: words are not substitutes for action. The cries of our people, echoed by the church, are calls for meaningful reform, transparency, and genuine service,” noted Babu.

He called on the government to stop focusing on countering criticism, and instead focus on delivering tangible results that uplift the lives of Kenyans.