KENYA: Countdown to Kenya General Elections, Prelates in AMECEA Region Emphasize Peace
Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku of Ol Obeid diocese Sudan
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As Kenya counts down days to the General Elections slated for Tuesday, August 9, prelates from across Eastern Africa have called upon Kenyans to embrace peace and avoid a repeat of what happened in the 2007/ 2008 that was marred with post-election violence.
“I saw a lot of trouble that took place in Kenya in 2007, and I know the value of peace that I have experienced in the country,” Bishop Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku of El Obeid, Sudan said in an interview, addressing the Kenyans: “Presidential elections come and go but the nation remains.”
He reminded Kenyans that the peace and serenity experienced in their country has brought “many people from war zones including Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan and Congo” to settled peacefully in Kenya.
According to Bishop Yunan, the people of Kenya are among the few citizens in Africa who have the opportunity to elect leaders of the country.
“You are lucky people to be part and parcel of electing your leaders. Many of our countries in Africa do not have that opportunity,” he highlighted in his message and urged Kenyans, “With this luck of opportunity in other countries and the peace you have, take elections seriously, be people of peace (and) never raise hand because Kenya is a country of peace for all of us.”
Emphasizing the fact that getting involved in elections is a right and privilege to all citizens, Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam of Asmara Archdiocese, Eritrea, said to Kenyans: “Elections are opportunities given to us to express our wish and elect good leaders. Fair elections bring good governance.”
Archbishop Tesfamariam assured Kenyans of his prayers on the very day of Elections Tuesday 9, and afterwards “that the elections may run smoothly, it may be fair and the voice of the people may be listened to.”
On his part, the Bishop Emeritus of Kenya’s Maralal Diocese Rt. Rev. Virgilio Pante reminded Kenyans to learn from the 2007/2008 post-election violence which left hundreds of people killed and others displaced.
“In 2007/2008 there was violence in the country and we have learned,” Bishop Pante said in an interview and emphasized, “let us accept the results when they will be out, let people not fight as previously, let us vote in humility and respect, avoid violence and avoid ethnicity.”
On his part, the Bishop of Kenya’s Eldoret Diocese reminded Kenya that “we are all one family of God and his children.”
“As you all know; we are heading towards the General Elections. We are asking the people to vote peacefully and to keep praying as well,” Bishop Dominic Kimengich said while addressing Kenyans in an interview adding, “If we do not vote wisely and the elections do not turn out well, violence begins. So, let us remember we are one family of God and children of God.”
