KENYA: Bishops Raise Concern on Collective Responsibility to “Pursue Paths for a Better Kenya”
Catholic Bishops in Kenya
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Catholic Bishops in Kenya during their extra-ordinary assembly in Nairobi have raised issues of urgent concern asking for collective responsibility from the government and all citizens for the betterment of the country.
“We wish to call upon all Kenyans to heed our call; to pursue paths that lead us to unity to seek to understand the path we need to take for a better Kenya; to avoid paths of confrontation and discord,” the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said in a collective statement signed by the Chairman of KCCB Archbishop Philip Arnold Anyolo on Wednesday, December 9.
Commenting on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) whose proponents (President Uhuru Kenyatta of former Prime Minister Raira Odinga are pushing for a Yes-No referendum, the Bishops have expressed concern that the country “risks diverting from the original spirit of the handshake” that was meant to bring unity and progress in the country.
“The country risks losing the agenda which needs to be attended to “following the violence that led to lose of lives in 2007/2008 post-election violence,” reads the statement.
The Church leaders have noted with concern the need to focus on consensus building to bring everyone on board on referendum issues in the country. “This is important as citizens of one country who want to approach the referendum united and soberly even though we might have different positions.”
Addressing further the issue of referendum, the Prelates noted that the process has fast evolved” and the “focus now is on how County Assemblies will read, interpret and vote on the Bill… and verification by IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission) is underway.”
The bishops call for civil education of citizen on the content of the Amendment Bill to guide decision making saying, “The referendum outcome is too important for the future of our country. Consequently, every Kenyan needs to be well aware of the Amendment Bill content so as to make an informed decision at the ballot.”
“The question we all should ask is, ‘How best do we carry forward the referendum process without injuring the reputation of our country as a democratic state where difference in political orientation does not result into ethnic hatred, hate speech and all forms of discrimination?” they added.
The 24 Bishops who were present at the extra-ordinary assembly together with the Chairman reminded Kenyans of the need to embrace peace and cohesion during the referendum process and asked the government to protect the citizen from any threat or harm during this process.
“It is everyone’s constitutional right to enjoy the freedom of expression and association. We look back to our history and realize that at times these freedoms have been abused. Innocent people have lost lives, been displaced or injured in political antagonism,” the statement reads in part.
“We want to categorically state that the Church will not be a spectator if peace is disturbed during the referendum and general election campaigns. The government should move in swiftly to pre-empt any form of mobilization threatening our peace and security,” the Bishops highlighted.
Concerning the “tension between the government and the doctors” due to poor working conditions, the Church leaders appeals for constructive dialogue saying that the tension “will not be resolved through arm twisting from both parties.”
“We know that medics must at all times aim to save lives. Their ethical obligations place the patient at the heart of their profession. And, indeed they should,” the collective statement reads and continues, “We see that medical doctors and nurses have not been listened to with an open mind,” hence “There is need for a constructive dialogue.”
The bishops also observed that “the doctors in part peg their demands on the fact that the government seems to have ready packages for the legislature but not for them.”
“The legislature is treated with love, care and protection. Salaries and the accompanying packages for the law makers are handsome,” the Prelates disclosed and bemoaned further, “The cry of the doctors, nurses and support staff, some of whom stand on the frontline as is the case with the fight against the Coronavirus spread, is hardly listened to. This is the dilemma the government needs to address. It must be seen to be fair to all civil servants.”
In their Tuesday statement, the Bishops have also asked the government to consider schools that have no capacity to comply with Covid-19 protocols in view of opening of schools in January 2021 and to also consider parents who will not be able to raise school fees for their children because of the effects of Covid-19 low income families.
In conclusion the Bishops said, “We have collective responsibility to work for peace and unity. As we pursue this path, we your shepherds promise our prayers and accompaniment.
