KENYA: “Take Action Against Violent Attacks in the Society,” Archbishop Muhatia Urges Authorities in Kenya
Archbishop Maurice Muhatia of Kisumu Archdiocese. Credit Radio Maria Facebook
Sr. Henriette Anne FSSA
The Local Ordinary of Kenya’s Kisumu Archdiocese, has called upon the authorities concerned with security issues in the country to carry out their role and give protection to citizens and prevent unnecessary loss of lives.
“We are here as a community to condemn acts of violence in our midst in whatever form. We continue to ask the agencies and the authorities responsible to take action, otherwise it may be presumed that they are supporting such violent inhuman acts,” Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba was speaking following brutal deaths that occurred in the Archdiocese in the recent past where a Kenyan alongside a Ugandan citizen were killed.
“Please do your work so that we can feel at home in our country and visitors can also feel at home in our country that cherishes peace,” the Archbishop who is the Vice Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) narrated further addressing the authorities, adding that people should not die recklessly in the country and in the society.
In his homily on Friday, July 28, during the burial of the Kenyan who died Mr. Vincent Ochieng Okoth, days after the burial of the Ugandan Mr. Martin Zziwa, Archbishop Muhatia acknowledged that people should not die in the society out of violence, but urged the community to stand against such deaths.
“Our brother has died a very painful death, and we say, he died a regrettable death, not that any death is good, but there are certain ways people should not die, people should not die out of violence done to them, this is unacceptable, this is condemnable, this is regrettable, this kind of death we should not promote, as a community, as a society and we must stand up and say as people of Kisumu, as people of Siaya, never again should somebody die like this.”
Reflecting on the teachings of the Catholic Church about human life, and calling on the people to embrace the sacredness of life, the Prelate noted that “human life is sacred that it cannot be taken by anybody else except God, even if one is guilty, that is how serious it is.”
He therefore urged the authorities and other institutions in the society to do their work and deal with violent acts urgently lest other people may get the inspiration to do doing the same.
