KENYA: Religious Leaders Emphasize Promotion of National Cohesion Through Justice and Peace
Religious Leaders at Domun Dei
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Promotion of justice and peace are the key elements in enhancing national cohesion before, during and after General Elections in any country or institution, religious leaders drawn from different faiths in Kenya have expressed after the August 9, 2022 elections and declaration of the Presidential poll results in the country.
In their collective message to Kenyans themed “A call to peace, justice and unity” the representatives of various faiths echoed the words in the country’s national anthem meant to promote social cohesion
Addressing the nation on Wednesday, August 17, the religious leaders appreciated voters for the peaceful election and acknowledged the need for the healing process of losers of the election after the declaration of Presidential poll results.
“Being a constitutional democracy, Kenya espouses competitive elections as a channel of choosing political leaders. While we congratulate those who have been elected, we also realize that many others were not successful,” reads part of the Wednesday pressor and it continues, “We know that these brothers and sisters are in need of healing and spiritual nurture to enable them move on to the next stage of life.”
They expressed their availability to offer services to all Kenyan “with hope and prayers that these engagements will promote justice, peace and prosperity” in the country.
Addressing the concern on division among the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioners at Ufungamano House, Nairobi, where four of the Commission’s members differed with their chairman on the Presidential results, the faith leaders have disclosed the step they have taken towards this concern.
“We recognize the centrality of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in our political processes as enshrined in the Constitution and laws of Kenya. We as religious leaders are concerned with the apparent disunity among the Commissioners. We have in this regard reached out to the Commissioners to listen to them and pray with a view of finding an amicable way forward,” reads an excerpt of their statement.
They further called upon all Kenyans to embrace peace and national cohesion and to remain committed to be guided by the rule of law, and not allow the electoral process be a source of division.
Following the fact that some officials during the election process have died or others disappeared, the religious leaders sent their condolences and urged for security to be beefed up in the country.
“We mourn the Kenyans who are reported to have been killed during the process, including the IEBC Returning Officer. We have prayed for their families, and urge the security agencies to speed up investigations so that those responsible are held to account,” they said.
The faith leaders have asked all Kenyans to join in prayer so that “the persons elected during this period will serve the nation effectively and will promote justice, peaceful coexistence and national cohesion.”
The various faith communities represented during the Wednesday press release include the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, (SUPKEM) Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), General Conference of Akorino Churches Assembly (GCACA), Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK), Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) and Shia Athnaashari Jamaat.
