KENYA: Press Release by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission
We Pray for Patience, Tolerance and a Moral Society
“You shall be my witness”, Acts 1:8
Our dear Kenyans and all people
of Good will,
of Good will,
We members of the Catholic Justice
and Peace Commission meeting at Kolping Conference Centre Langata have
deliberated on the state of affairs in our country and recent happenings after the
March 4, General elections. We wish to state the following:
and Peace Commission meeting at Kolping Conference Centre Langata have
deliberated on the state of affairs in our country and recent happenings after the
March 4, General elections. We wish to state the following:
1.
Upholding democracy and constitutionalism
Upholding democracy and constitutionalism
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| Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth |
As enshrined in Article 1 of the
constitution, all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya. We call on Parliament,
independent offices and other elected leaders to uphold this principle and
always champion for the welfare of the people to uplift their standards of
living through good governance and service delivery. We are not pleased that Parliamentarians
and County Assembly Members were able to increase their allowances contrary to
the initial recommendations by the Executive and Salaries and Remuneration
Commission (SRC). A case in point is that, teachers are now being punished for
rightfully demanding for long awaited pay. Why the double standards? Are some
people more equally than others?
constitution, all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya. We call on Parliament,
independent offices and other elected leaders to uphold this principle and
always champion for the welfare of the people to uplift their standards of
living through good governance and service delivery. We are not pleased that Parliamentarians
and County Assembly Members were able to increase their allowances contrary to
the initial recommendations by the Executive and Salaries and Remuneration
Commission (SRC). A case in point is that, teachers are now being punished for
rightfully demanding for long awaited pay. Why the double standards? Are some
people more equally than others?
We believe that the hefty fines
imposed on the teachers by the courts were unjustified. We are further alarmed
by remarks by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) that teachers
should not be paid for the days they were participating in industrial action.
imposed on the teachers by the courts were unjustified. We are further alarmed
by remarks by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) that teachers
should not be paid for the days they were participating in industrial action.
We call for drastic action to remedy
the scandal of wage disparity which sees some workers earn peanuts while top
executives earn excessive amounts. Basing our stand on the Catholic Social
teaching, we insist that God’s intention in creating us to develop the goods of
the earth, was that this would be for the common good of all and decent human
life for everyone. All efforts should be on deck to make it a national priority
to decrease the gap between the rich and the poor.
the scandal of wage disparity which sees some workers earn peanuts while top
executives earn excessive amounts. Basing our stand on the Catholic Social
teaching, we insist that God’s intention in creating us to develop the goods of
the earth, was that this would be for the common good of all and decent human
life for everyone. All efforts should be on deck to make it a national priority
to decrease the gap between the rich and the poor.
We call on the Judiciary to reaffirm
their independence and build confidence as an institution that Kenyans can
trust. There must be respect of the rule
of law and this can only be attained when issues are looked at objectively and holistically,
and right decisions made.
their independence and build confidence as an institution that Kenyans can
trust. There must be respect of the rule
of law and this can only be attained when issues are looked at objectively and holistically,
and right decisions made.
We reaffirm our belief in the
constitution and the several rights and freedoms guaranteed therein and urge
the Government to respect, uphold and protect the human rights as enshrined in
Chapter Four (4) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010; especially the rights of
workers.
constitution and the several rights and freedoms guaranteed therein and urge
the Government to respect, uphold and protect the human rights as enshrined in
Chapter Four (4) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010; especially the rights of
workers.
2.
Insecurity and police reforms
Insecurity and police reforms
We remind our Honourable leaders
of their obligation and responsibility to unite the country and give it a new
start. Kenya remains divided and insecurity is still rampant across the country
as have been witnessed in places like Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Bungoma and at
the Coast.
of their obligation and responsibility to unite the country and give it a new
start. Kenya remains divided and insecurity is still rampant across the country
as have been witnessed in places like Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Bungoma and at
the Coast.
The Kenya Conference of Catholic
Bishops – Catholic Justice and Peace Commission is shocked at the attempts by security
agents summoning some individuals who are perceived to be holding divergent
political views. Kenyans still have bitter memories of former regimes and how
the security organs were used to intimidate, harass, torture and silence those
of divergent opinions
Bishops – Catholic Justice and Peace Commission is shocked at the attempts by security
agents summoning some individuals who are perceived to be holding divergent
political views. Kenyans still have bitter memories of former regimes and how
the security organs were used to intimidate, harass, torture and silence those
of divergent opinions
Are we sliding back to the bad
old days? What happened to constitutionalism and good governance? Does the
government still believe in the Bill of Rights? Is this country upholding the
spirit and the letter of the constitution? We challenge the government to
direct such energies towards ensuring detection, prevention of crimes and
overall national security and stability of all Kenyans.
old days? What happened to constitutionalism and good governance? Does the
government still believe in the Bill of Rights? Is this country upholding the
spirit and the letter of the constitution? We challenge the government to
direct such energies towards ensuring detection, prevention of crimes and
overall national security and stability of all Kenyans.
The Inspector General of Police
must remember that many Kenyans still lack full trust in the police. We remind
the Inspector General that he should use his four year term of office to fully
implement the Police reforms in order to build trust and confidence of Kenyan
in the police.
must remember that many Kenyans still lack full trust in the police. We remind
the Inspector General that he should use his four year term of office to fully
implement the Police reforms in order to build trust and confidence of Kenyan
in the police.
3.
Sustaining the Economy of our Country
Sustaining the Economy of our Country
There must be full scrutiny and
restructuring of our economic systems to ensure that our Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) is commensurate with the functions and responsibilities of running the
country. We should not have misplaced priorities.
restructuring of our economic systems to ensure that our Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) is commensurate with the functions and responsibilities of running the
country. We should not have misplaced priorities.
A good economy is that which caters for Basic
needs of her citizens before anything else. We are not agreeable to
over-taxation of the citizens particularly
through VAT as proposed in the VAT Bill 2013 which will greatly overburden the majority of the Kenyans
who already languishing in poverty. Public servants – teachers, doctors,
nurses, lecturers and others – who may be planning to strike, should be patient
and embrace dialogue to push for their justified demands and, as the president
pleaded, to first and foremost allow the economy to grow.
needs of her citizens before anything else. We are not agreeable to
over-taxation of the citizens particularly
through VAT as proposed in the VAT Bill 2013 which will greatly overburden the majority of the Kenyans
who already languishing in poverty. Public servants – teachers, doctors,
nurses, lecturers and others – who may be planning to strike, should be patient
and embrace dialogue to push for their justified demands and, as the president
pleaded, to first and foremost allow the economy to grow.
Conclusion
Our dear Kenyans, as a Church,
we must always point out the wrongs in the society, as the Founding Father of
our Nation Mzee Jomo Kenyatta stated,
‘’The Church is the conscience of society’’. Let us be
united and personally commit towards a just, united and peaceful Kenya. Let us renew
our commitment to develop and leave a better country for future generations.
we must always point out the wrongs in the society, as the Founding Father of
our Nation Mzee Jomo Kenyatta stated,
‘’The Church is the conscience of society’’. Let us be
united and personally commit towards a just, united and peaceful Kenya. Let us renew
our commitment to develop and leave a better country for future generations.
We continue to pray for a United
and Peaceful Kenya
and Peaceful Kenya
May God Bless Kenya and May
Truth and Justice be our Shield and Defender.
Truth and Justice be our Shield and Defender.
Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth
SOURCE: KCCB Communications office
SOURCE: KCCB Communications office
