The Anglican Church of Kenya has issued a scathing warning to the country’s leadership, declaring that corruption, political greed, and state-sponsored violence are dragging Kenya toward a dangerous crisis.
Speaking at the end of its 27th Provincial Synod at All Saints’ Cathedral, Nairobi, the bishops acknowledged government efforts to tame inflation and stabilize the economy, but said such progress is being overshadowed by unchecked graft, wasteful spending, and brutality against citizens.
“The nation cannot prosper while its resources are looted, its people are silenced, and its leaders are consumed by selfish ambition,” the Synod declared, accusing both national and county governments of extravagance while Auditor General’s reports gather dust without consequences.
The church demanded that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) be given prosecutorial powers to act without interference, and insisted that any government officer implicated in graft must immediately step aside until cleared.
The bishops were equally blunt on political reforms, warning against fresh attempts to extend the term of elected leaders from five to seven years. “Even the United States, the largest economy in the world, retains a four-year presidential cycle. Kenya’s five-year election mandate must remain untouchable,” they warned.
On human dignity, the ACK condemned extra-judicial killings, police brutality, and the recent surge in femicide cases, describing them as a stain on the nation’s conscience. “Every life is sacred, and no state organ has the right to silence voices of dissent. Justice must be seen to be done for victims of demonstrations and for women whose lives are being cut short by senseless killings,” the statement read.
The Synod also sounded the alarm on youth unemployment, failing health systems, underfunded universities, and urban decay, arguing that leaders have chosen early 2027 campaigns over service delivery. The church called for a law to criminalize premature campaigns, which it said were destabilizing investor confidence and disrupting businesses.
In its conclusion, the Anglican Church cast itself as the nation’s moral voice, urging leaders to abandon greed and uphold justice. “Kenya is drifting into crisis. Leaders must choose between looting and life, between power games and the people. As a church, we declare: every life matters, every voice counts, and every leader must be accountable,” the Synod affirmed
