KENYA: Faith Leaders in Kenya Urge Politicians to Fast Track Formation of Joint Parliamentary Committee

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

After the President of Kenya, HE. Dr. William Ruto, and the opposition leader Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, accepted to engage in dialogue to resolve political differences affecting the nation, members of various faith organizations together with other concerned groups have urged the two leaders to speed up formation of joint parliamentary committee to enable urgent restoration of stability in the country.

“To move the nation forward, we now urge the leadership of all political parties in Parliament to fast track the formation of the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee to carry out the necessary consultations to set the framework to address the issues of concern,” Faith leaders stated in their message published Tuesday, April 4.

They noted that the agenda for the national consultations needs to be premised on the longstanding issues affecting Kenyans including; “Tackling poverty and inequality as well as lowering the cost of living, unemployment and ensuring dignified livelihoods for the youth, consolidating national cohesion and unity and combating insecurity and addressing transparency, accountability and impunity.”

To effectively resolve the aforementioned concerns, representatives from the various Faiths whose aim is to voice out common issues affecting the country highlighted that, those involved in the consultative process need to heed the warning of God in scriptures that “the Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”

They should also pay attention to message from Quran that, “mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.”

Faith leaders stressed that, “all consultations be open and in good faith and truth (since) Kenya deserves truth in all processes as citizens listen to each other.”

The various groups that met on Tuesday at Ufungamano House in Nairobi include, Religious leaders from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) together with Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), the Elections Observation Group (ELOG), and the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR).

Reminding Kenyans of their mandate to safeguard the peace and unity of our country, representatives from the various groups referenced a statement in the preamble of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 saying that, “We are proud of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, and determined to live in peace and unity as one indivisible sovereign nation.”

They further urged Kenyans that even though we are all affected by the rising cost of living and the economic state of the nation, “we must be hopeful, and work hard to adapt to the changing social-economic and climatic conditions.”

“We must also continually demand that our leaders, both in government and in the opposition, listen to us so that we together seek and implement viable solutions to our problems,” they added emphasizing that if Kenyans play their role, “we will treasure and safeguard our peace and democracy, and protect our lives and those of our future generations.”

Lamenting on move by the police to raid a home for one of the religious leaders the Tuesday statement read imparts, “We are deeply concerned that this morning (Tuesday 4^th) some police officers invaded the home of Bishop Prof David Kodia, the Chairman of NCCK in Nyanza Region, without a search or arrest warrant.”

“We believe that the police were seeking to arrest him because of his vocal statements on matters of social justice. We call on the President to assure Kenyans of the protection and freedom of all people, including religious leaders who speak out for the people,” they said.

According to media reports, NCCK officials want the police to come out and give details on the reasons for pursuing Bishop Kodia.

Faith leaders also condoled with all families that were bereaved by the deaths that occurred during the mass action organized in the past weeks by the opposition leader against the government.

“We pray that God will grant you consolation and peace. We are also praying for speedy healing and recovery for all those who were injured, who were robbed, and all those who lost their possessions and businesses,” they said stressing that justice may prevail in the country and that security agencies and specialized state agencies “to undertake speedy investigations on all acts of crime to ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.”

In conclusion, the religious leaders called upon all Kenyans to treasure and protect national unity, peace and liberty, by always pursuing justice for every person, and to firmly resist political and social leaders who drive divisions and violence, and instead demand for peace and betterment of society.