KENYA: Religious Leaders Concerned About the Spirit Guiding the Nation
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
In a meeting with Kenya’s Head of State Uhuru Kenyatta, religious leaders’ representatives from diverse religious bodies have expressed their concern about the issues affecting the country and asked the President for his consideration for the progress of the Nation.
“On behalf of the many religious leaders, we present some of the major hopes and concerns that we have, as the moral conscience of our Nation, and give feedback from what we are witnessing,” reads in part the in statement in they called, ‘the spirit that is now guiding our Nation’ signed by the umbrella bodies’ representatives on Friday, September 25.
Speaking about “tension and uncertainty in the country as a result of real or perceived disagreements within the various arms of government and institutions, political leaders and communities,” the religious leaders have encouraged dialogue and consultation among conflicting groups.”
They referenced the words of the National anthem which calls on all citizen to “work with one accord, to have a common bond of unity that is the thread that builds this our Nation together” and to “constantly seek ways of building consensus on pressing National issues.”
In the Friday statement signed by nine representatives of religious bodies including the chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Archbishop Philip Anyolo, the Religious leaders decry the political bickering and hurling of unsavory exchanges among government leaders which is a “great cause of anxiety among Kenyans.”
They noted that the disagreements among government leaders are a sign of growing intolerance “that is fueled by evil seed of hatred and pride, and a misconception of leaders that they own the citizens.”
The religious leaders further noted that “hatred, intolerance, selfishness, (and) greed cannot build any worthy society and cannot be the basis to project the future of a Nation.”
In this regard, they have expressed their availability to contribute in addressing the “perpetual problem of historic injustices, inequality of regions, marginalized sectors of society, cohesion and National unity which they claim have been totally hijacked by the political class.”
The representatives from various Religious bodies have appealed to the President “to support and create an enabling environment for all constitutional public institutions to deliver their mandate to Kenyans.”
The religious leaders have also asked the President to repair the moral and social fabric of the Nation including strengthening the family by involving “stakeholders to accelerate the development of the family policy together with its implementation plan,” which will “institute a life-long character formation framework and inculcation of values.”
Other areas of concern which the leaders ask for government intervention includes, sexual and Gender Based Violence (GBV) which has led to the “increase in the number of teenage pregnancies” in the country, extrajudicial killings and lawlessness by police, redemption of the country’s economy, restoring dignity to the institutions of governance and fighting against Corruption and restoration of ethical conduct by public officers and officials.
