KENYA: Church Leaders Call for Speedy Enactment of Laws to Enhance Security in the Country
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| HE John Cardinal Njue (left) Chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops and Most Rev. Eliud Wabukala Head of Anglican Church in Kenya |
The Mainstream Christian Churches’ leaders have demanded speedy enactment of laws that will help
Kenya’s security organs in the fight against terrorism.
Kenya’s security organs in the fight against terrorism.
They called
on the National Assembly and the Senate to move quickly to pass legislation
that will “enhance the capacity of our security organs to deal with
insecurity”.
on the National Assembly and the Senate to move quickly to pass legislation
that will “enhance the capacity of our security organs to deal with
insecurity”.
In a
strongly worded Press statement issued in Nairobi on 10th December 2014, the leaders criticized the inadequacies of the
current security organs, saying that such a force was incapable of protecting
Kenyans from terrorist attacks.
strongly worded Press statement issued in Nairobi on 10th December 2014, the leaders criticized the inadequacies of the
current security organs, saying that such a force was incapable of protecting
Kenyans from terrorist attacks.
“We find
poor coordination between our National Intelligence Service, the Kenya Police
Service and the entire disciplined forces to be totally unacceptable,” said Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of the Anglican Church adding that “A police
force bogged down by bureaucratic and weak command structures and an
intelligence service that has lost touch with the realities on the ground can
never be trusted to secure Kenyans.”
poor coordination between our National Intelligence Service, the Kenya Police
Service and the entire disciplined forces to be totally unacceptable,” said Archbishop Eliud Wabukala of the Anglican Church adding that “A police
force bogged down by bureaucratic and weak command structures and an
intelligence service that has lost touch with the realities on the ground can
never be trusted to secure Kenyans.”
The leaders
also want the mandate of the National Police Service to be expanded to give it
the capacity to deal swiftly and conclusively with security issues.
also want the mandate of the National Police Service to be expanded to give it
the capacity to deal swiftly and conclusively with security issues.
The leaders want that the rule of law supersedes any religion. “As such, places of worship -whether Christian, Muslim or any other faith must not be used to shield criminal activities,” read the statement.
A Security
Laws (Amendment) Bill is currently being debated in the National Assembly in
response to the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Mandera County in which 64
non-Muslim Kenyans were killed.
Laws (Amendment) Bill is currently being debated in the National Assembly in
response to the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Mandera County in which 64
non-Muslim Kenyans were killed.
The proposal
has, however, been criticised by human rights activists, who say it will
curtail freedom of expression, the right to privacy, freedom of the media and
other civil liberties.
has, however, been criticised by human rights activists, who say it will
curtail freedom of expression, the right to privacy, freedom of the media and
other civil liberties.
“We are
calling for a deliberate, well-thought-out overhaul of the entire security
apparatus in the country as opposed to piecemeal, cosmetic and reactionary
changes,” they said.
calling for a deliberate, well-thought-out overhaul of the entire security
apparatus in the country as opposed to piecemeal, cosmetic and reactionary
changes,” they said.
The leaders
also asked Muslim brothers and sisters towards preaching and promoting religious tolerance, and stemming radicalization of the youth. “They must move beyond merely condemning the spate of attacks targeting Non-Muslims to initiating practical steps to the sympathizers of terror and helping us to build bridges between faiths and communities,” read the statement.
also asked Muslim brothers and sisters towards preaching and promoting religious tolerance, and stemming radicalization of the youth. “They must move beyond merely condemning the spate of attacks targeting Non-Muslims to initiating practical steps to the sympathizers of terror and helping us to build bridges between faiths and communities,” read the statement.
“Over 200
Kenyans have died this year alone due to terror attacks. These attacks were
initially on Christian places of worship but they are now directly targeting
innocent Christians in public transport and (at) their places of work.
Kenyans have died this year alone due to terror attacks. These attacks were
initially on Christian places of worship but they are now directly targeting
innocent Christians in public transport and (at) their places of work.
“We therefore,
ask Muslim leaders to move beyond merely condemning the attacks and initiate
practical steps to catch sympathisers of terror and help us build bridges
between faiths and communities,” said Rev Wabukala.
ask Muslim leaders to move beyond merely condemning the attacks and initiate
practical steps to catch sympathisers of terror and help us build bridges
between faiths and communities,” said Rev Wabukala.
Cardinal
John Njue of the Catholic Church called on Christians to maintain peace and
refrain from retaliatory attacks, saying that the country needs to remain
united.
John Njue of the Catholic Church called on Christians to maintain peace and
refrain from retaliatory attacks, saying that the country needs to remain
united.
“Although
the recent executions in Mandera showed patterns of religious intolerance, we
ask Christians to maintain peace,” he said adding that “As
Jesus Christ taught us, it is not for us to avenge,” said the cardinal.
the recent executions in Mandera showed patterns of religious intolerance, we
ask Christians to maintain peace,” he said adding that “As
Jesus Christ taught us, it is not for us to avenge,” said the cardinal.
He added
that the war against terrorism would need the concerted efforts of all Kenyans
regardless of their religious affiliation.
that the war against terrorism would need the concerted efforts of all Kenyans
regardless of their religious affiliation.
