KENYA: Religious Leaders Warn against Red-herring, Ask Government to Deal with Crime on Controversial Religious Movement
IRCK. Courtesy KCCB-CJP website page
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Religious leaders in Kenya have in their statement warned against covering up criminality in the county following a controversial religious movement detected recently and called upon the government to “deal with crime as crime.”
According to members of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) which include representative from the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), the criminal activities carried out in the name of the Good News International Church that have been going on for just over 20 years, need to be handled lawfully.
The Religious leaders revealed that “Pastor” of the Good News International Church known as Paul Mackenzie “has been arrested and treated casually on multiple occasions, but each time released to go and continue.”
“We find that the narrative being driven that churches, and by extension, religion, need to be regulated is a facade meant to divert attention from the real problem, which is that the state has failed to play its role of dealing with crime,” members of IRCK pointed out in the statement read out by KCCB chairman, Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Mombasa on Wednesday, May 3.
They therefore asked the government “to expedite investigations and prosecute, not only Pastor Mackenzie and accomplices in his church, but also the state officers who have over the years facilitated him to engage in criminal activity through complicity or being compromised through bribery.”
Concerning strategies on regulating religions in the country, the Religious leaders from different faiths after their meeting at Ufungamano House in Nairobi, promised to continue with “internal consultations to structure self-regulation guidelines that will cater for all religions in the country,” which they say the resolution will be shared in the due course.
Besides the controversial religious movement, members of IRCK also reflected on socio-political state of the nation and noted that the prevailing political instability is being driven by “the divergent goals of the leading formations.”
“On one hand, we have the government that is focused on bringing the 2022 elections to a closure; and on the other hand we have the opposition which is focused on keeping the 2022 elections discourse open,” they narrated and stressed that because of the political instability, “Kenyans have expressed doubt on the willingness of the political actors to resolve the prevailing political instability through bi-partisan talks as earlier envisaged.”
Despite this they said further, “it is extremely important that we as a nation attain political stability to avert further suffering of the people and to create an environment for economic and social development.”
The Religious leaders continued urging Kenyans especially the political leadership, to embrace dialogue as a means of resolving disputes.
“In the meantime, we call upon His Excellency President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Rt. Hon Raila Odinga to carefully measure their words and actions so as to promote unity and peace in the nation rather than tension and divisions,” they said.
They also encouraged citizens to sustain the commitment and determination to remain peaceful and calm despite the challenges and provocations so as to build the nation together.
“We must firmly resist the incitement by political and social leaders who are focused on selfish ambitions. Instead, let each of us deliberately engage all public participation forums and opportunities, taking every chance to influence policy and decision making process,” the Religious leaders said adding that, “We should not leave the destiny of our families in the hands of politicians alone, and should instead adopt the mantra of “Nothing for us without us”.
Consequently, speaking about the economy of the nation, the representatives from various religions acknowledges the existence of “economic crisis” saying, “We have found that the prospects for the people of Kenya are worrying. We are at a position where the government appears not have adequate revenue to deliver on services, pay back loans or even honor salary obligations. Unfortunately, the amount of wastage in government is staggering, which is worsening the situation.”
They therefore recommend that the national and county governments “adopt an approach frugality by cutting off all unnecessary expenditure and the government to communicate clearly to Kenyans the pathway out of the economic crisis the nation is experiencing.”
They concluded by calling upon all citizens to be determine to make a contribution to the wellbeing and prosperity of the nation.
