Bishops Oppose Govt Proposal To Stop Churches From Managing Schools
The Bishops poked holes into a proposed Education bill (Basic Education Bill 2024) that seeks to dilute and reduce the role of the Church on the educational institutions in the country.
Marvin Chege 
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) on Thursday, April 11 cried foul over the government's attempts to interfere with the church's management of schools and other educational institutions.
Speaking to the press in Karen, Nairobi during the Bishops’ Plenary Assembly, the Bishops poked holes into a proposed Education bill (Basic Education Bill 2024) that allegedly seeks to dilute and reduce the role of the Church on the educational institutions in the country.
The bishops believed that the move was a breach of the original arrangement between the Church and the State on how Church-founded education institutions were to be managed, arguing how important the Church has played in ensuring that not only educational institutions produce great-minded individuals but also enhance their moral character.
A photo of Church Army Academy & Junior Secondary School. /FACEBOOK.CHURCH ARMY ACADEMY
"Our history is very clear, that many of these institutions were established by our missionaries, who worked tirelessly and with great sacrifice, to set them up and nurtured them for many years," KCCB stated.
"Moreover, the main contribution was not only academic education but a true formation of morals and humanity. This has given our Country great leaders and forged the moral fabric of our Kenyan society."
The bishops cited gradual attempts to cut off the Churches from managing and providing a crucial role to schools since independence, with the proposed new Bill threatening the role of churches in Kenya's education system.
"We, therefore, decry and reject the systematic scheme to undermine and weaken our management role as the founders of the Catholic Sponsored schools.
"As a major stakeholder in the provision of education, we as a Church have a right to actively engage in the overall management and supervision of all our private and Catholic-sponsored schools. Most of these were born out of the initiative of the Catholic Church," the bishops affirmed.
KCCB also opposed a proposed Universities Bill (amendment) 2024, which aims to grant the Cabinet Minister unilateral power of dissolution and merger, conversion or amalgamation of private universities without reference to the owners (art. 38).
The bishops accused the government of attempting to control and interfere with faith-based universities instead of improving the situation in public universities where the situation is dire.
"While we wish to follow the standards set by the Ministry of Education, we wish that there always be full consultation with all stakeholders in matters that affect our Universities," added the statement.
During the same presser, KCCB cited changing dynamics of the relationship between the Church and the government, expressing concern about the deliberate intent to reduce and undermine the role of the Catholic Church, and indeed all Faiths as safeguards of morality in society.
Of focus was the government’s move to increase work permit charges for missionaries from Ksh15,000 to Ksh150,000, an increase of 10 times the original amount.
“We are surprised by the exorbitant increase in the Work Permit Charges paid for Missionaries, from Ksh15,000 to Ksh150,000. This is absolutely unethical and shows a lack of gratitude to people dedicating their lives to the good of society,” the bishops stated.
“We as a country, in fact, should be showing gratitude and appreciation through giving waivers to priests, religious men and women, and other social missionary volunteers who come to complement our social engagement. We request that their work permit be zero-rated,” the religious leaders urged the government.
