Raila Odinga Slams Church Leaders Decrying Police Brutality, Calls Them Hypocrites: "Walikuwa Wapi?"
- ODM leader Raila Odinga criticised the church for what he called selective outrage, accusing religious leaders of hypocrisy over their recent condemnation of police brutality
- Raila recalled a time in 2023 when churches shut their doors to mourners seeking to pray for protest victims, despite the deaths of young Kenyans during protests
- He challenged the moral integrity of religious institutions, questioning their silence during past state violence and urging them to stand with the people consistently
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Raila Odinga did not hold back in his latest public appearance.
Source: Facebook
The ODM leader spoke at a development event, sharply criticising Kenya’s church leaders, accusing them of speaking out only when it suits them politically.
Raila made the remarks on Tuesday, June 24, during the laying of a foundation stone for the Maganda Early Childhood Development Centre in Jomvu, Mombasa.
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Addressing residents, he took issue with the clergy's recent condemnation of police brutality, pointing out their silence during the deadly 2023 protests, which spoke volumes.
“In 2023, when our boys and girls had been killed and we wanted to go and pray for them, we were not allowed to go to any church,” Raila recalled. “All the churches denied us a place to go and pray at that time.”
He went on to accuse the church of moral inconsistency, claiming that the clergy now coming forward in solidarity with protestors are doing so only after public opinion shifted.
“Hypocrisy is the church coming out now to say ‘we are with you people.’ Where were they all that time? Hypocrites,” he said.
Raila’s remarks come at a time when the country is once again grappling with concerns over state-sanctioned violence and public accountability.
Why did religious leaders criticise state?
TUKO.co.ke previously reported that Catholic bishops strongly criticised President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of enabling human rights violations through police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and the silencing of dissent.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), representing all 30 dioceses in the country, said the government had turned its back on ordinary Kenyans while prioritising political loyalty.
The bishops expressed alarm over the violent suppression of youth-led protests, condemning the targeting of Gen Z demonstrators who had raised concerns over unemployment, high taxes, and corruption.
They also decried the growing misuse of public funds for political gain while essential sectors like healthcare, education, and youth empowerment remained underfunded.
Source: Youtube
Why does Anglican church want DCI disbanded?
In a related development, Anglican bishops from the Nyanza region echoed similar concerns, demanding the disbandment of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
They accused the agency of operating outside the law, citing rising cases of enforced disappearances, intimidation, and unlawful killings that had created widespread fear, particularly in their communities.
Additionally, the Anglican leaders faulted the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) for failing in its mandate to ensure police accountability.
They urged Ruto to step in and restore discipline within security agencies, warning that continued abuse by law enforcement risked plunging the country into deeper lawlessness.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
