President William Ruto has responded to the Catholic bishops following their controversial statement on Thursday, which has since caught the attention of Kenyans, including the political class.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of Tangaza University in Nairobi on Friday, November 15, the head of state cautioned the clergy against fueling misinformation.

Addressing the congregation, President Ruto acknowledged his close ties with the Catholic fraternity, adding that some of his children went to catholic schools.

Ruto went ahead to advise the clergy to stop the criticism and work closely with the government towards the progress of the nation and to build a country all Kenyans would be proud of.

"I want to ask leaders and clergy to work together towards a nation we can all be proud of and even as we engage in public discourse, which is important to Kenyans," President Ruto commented.

"We must be careful to be factual lest we become victims of the things we accuse others of doing, I know you know what I mean," the Head of State added.

President Ruto's sentiments come barely hours after the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) criticised President Ruto's administration over allegations of preventing corruption, unkept promises, abductions, and extrajudicial killings.

Speaking to journalists in Ruaraka Sub-County, Nairobi County, on Thursday, November 14, the church leaders faulted the government for not replaying the debt owed by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to faith-based organisations.

The bishops also took a swipe at the government over its failure to constitute the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) despite calls by different stakeholders for the same.

The church leaders also faulted the country's security organs for failing to deal with cases of abductions, femicide, and extrajudicial killings recently witnessed in the country.

“Many families are grappling with the loss of their children who were brutally killed and went missing following what is referred to as the Gen Z demonstrations in June 2024. Many of them had raised concerns about rampant corruption, who is behind these abductions?” the bishops noted.

“This culture of lies, unkept promises, and misplaced priorities is unacceptable and needs to be dealt with. We believe that genuine consultations of all concerned stakeholders is necessary beyond the casualty public participation,” the statement added.