KENYA: In Final Lap to Elections, Bishops Urge Citizenry, IEBC to Exercise their Civic Duty
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has called upon citizens and Commissioners of the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to be responsible and exercise their civic duty as the day of the Election nears.
In their collective message read by Archbishop Anthony Muheria the Local Ordinary of Nyeri Archdiocese, on Sunday, July 31, the prelates reminded citizens that they need to exercise their right by getting involved in the voting and safeguarding peace “before, during, after voting and even after Elections results are announced.”
“Voting is an exercise that marks our civic duty in a very distinctive manner. We recognize our common aspirations as Kenyans who are here to create the best environment for development for ourselves,” Archbishop Muheria said while addressing Christians at Consolata Cathedral, Nyeri.
He continued, “With our vote, we have a say on who takes charge of our development agenda right from the Ward to the National level. Not only are we encouraging each eligible voter to go out to vote, but also to vote wisely for those who best embrace our aspirations in the most practical way.”
The prelate who was reading the message signed by the Chairman of KCCB, Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa Archdiocese, cautioned on apathy which leads to wrong candidates winning political seats.
“The risk we warn everyone against, is feeling helpless or losing interest in voting for one reason or the other. Not going to vote gives room for less qualified candidates, including the corrupt people and less worthy people to win seats that they clearly should not,” he said.
“If faced with the poor selection of choices we must avoid the worst! We cannot turn to God to deliver us from corruption when a chance to address corruption is here and now,” Archbishop Muheria further narrated.
Reminding Kenyans that the diverse religions in the country encourage love and care for one another at all times, Most Rev. Muheria said: “As a God-loving country, our religions remind us that we are neighbors to each other at all times even in the moment of electioneering. We are caretakers of one another.”
He added, “Our diverse religious beliefs converge in the principle of love for our neighbors,” which is not just an abstract term but “It manifests itself in moments like this, when it should bring out the best in each one of us.”
He disclosed that Kenya’s Constitution speaks in this regard of the spirit of patriotism saying, “We share with our neighbors, wherever we are, in the villages, in towns or in the cities the identity of who we are: citizens of our beloved Nation, Kenya. As citizens we commit our best intentions for the Love of our Country, since we have no other country to call home.”
For nearly two months, Catholic bishops in Kenya have been sharing weekly peace messages dubbed “the Bishops’ Voice,” focusing on pertinent issues during the electioneering period which has been ongoing and encouraging citizen on fair, credible, peaceful and transparent elections.
Addressing members of IEBC and other actors on their obligation to safeguard legitimate results of the elections, the Bishops Conference said in their Sunday message, “We strongly urge the politicians and other players to address any emerging issues and complains to IEBC, in a manner that does not antagonize their efforts to deliver free, fair and credible elections.”
“We must avoid communication through public pronouncements or public squabbling, and use civil and established avenues,” they added assuring IEBC moral support and prayers.
They further warned on media reports “that threaten the integrity of (election) process, meant to deliver the will of the people of Kenya,” noting that they “cannot ignore the events in the ending week involving alleged claims of possible interference of the vote count process.”
The alleged claims were on mysterious ballot papers which arrived in the country for use in the August 9, general elections.
Based on the concerns, the bishops called on the IEBC to “do whatever is in its powers to address legitimate concerns knowing that its civic duty is to promote and protect the interests of the voters.”
Besides, they narrated in their message, IEBC “ought to come out openly to clarify any allegations or misrepresentations, while political parties and major stakeholders who IEBC serves as part of its mandate, must not lose sight of our dark history with vote count. We must conclude the election exercise without delays.”
The Church leaders also called upon the government, political parties and all non-state actors involved in the General Elections process that they have a “responsibility to offer protection and facilitation to ensure a fair, credible and transparent election, while every Kenyan, has a civic duty to be proactive in delivering legitimate elections.”
The Church leaders further disclosed that they are “conscious of some (people0 who may be plotting evil by sowing hatred,” hence asked “all Kenyans to pray for peace and justice to be the guiding principles as we exercise our civic duty.”
“As we turn to God for His guidance, we are convinced He will see us through this anxious moment…We Christians should do even more! To God we pray for wisdom to vote wisely, and to act rightly as patriotic citizens and believers, for the benefit of our society and our country,” they concluded.
