{"id":42,"date":"2016-04-08T14:57:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-08T14:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/2016\/04\/08\/kenya-situation-of-our-nation-press\/"},"modified":"2016-05-03T09:40:29","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T09:40:29","slug":"kenya-situation-of-our-nation-press","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communications.amecea.org\/index.php\/2016\/04\/08\/kenya-situation-of-our-nation-press\/","title":{"rendered":"KENYA: ‘SITUATION OF OUR NATION’ – A Press Statement of the Catholic Bishops of Kenya"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nKENYA CONFERENCE OF
\nCATHOLIC BISHOPS<\/b><\/div>\n
\nKENYA CATHOLIC SECRETARIAT<\/b><\/div>\n
\nWaumini House, Westlands<\/b><\/div>\n
\nP.O. Box 13475 – 00800,
\nairobi<\/b><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nSITUATION OF OUR NATION <\/b><\/div>\n
\n“For
\nwhat does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For
\nwhat can a man give in return for his life” (Mk 8:36-37). <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n1. INTRODUCTION <\/b><\/div>\n
\nDear
\nBrothers and Sisters, we the Catholic Bishops of Kenya, gathered for our
\nOrdinary Plenary Assembly of Bishops, at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Nairobi,
\ngreet you in the words of the Risen Christ on that Easter evening, “Peace
\nbe with you”. As we take time to reflect on the life and mission of the
\nChurch, we have also had time to reflect on the state of our Nation and
\ntherefore, as your shepherds, wish to raise our voice on several
\nissues that are of great concern to all of us. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe
\nvisit of His Holiness Pope Francis is still fresh in our minds. The experience
\nof his visit is unforgettable. His example of humility, his powerful and bold
\nmessage to all Kenyans, his concern for young people of this nation, the
\npoorest of the poor in our slums, and indeed the care of our environment are
\nexperiences that will forever shape and transform our society. As we embrace
\nand live the excitement of this visit, the task of building on the foundation
\nof his message must be sustained with greater enthusiasm. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nWe
\nare eternally grateful for his ever first and historic visit. Kenyans must feel
\nblessed and encouraged by this visit. We sincerely thank the Holy Father for
\nchoosing Kenya as the first stop in his Apostolic visit to Africa. Our message
\nto you dear Kenyans, taking the encouraging words of the Holy Father,
\n“Stand strong in Faith, Do not be afraid” is contained in this
\nreflection on the state of our beloved Country Kenya. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n“You
\nshall be my Witnesses”, (Acts 1:8) for the Sanctification and Salvation of
\nall People. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n            2.
\n        OUR NATIONAL FOUNDATION <\/b><\/div>\n
\nWhen
\nour forefathers and all those who struggled for the birth of this great Nation
\nof Kenya fought for our independence, they dreamt of a sovereign Nation where
\nall will have equal opportunities to develop, prosper and live in dignity freed
\nfrom the scourges of poverty, diseases and illiteracy. This vision was not only
\nfor themselves and their children but for all generations to come. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThey
\ndreamt of a Country guided by visionary leaders who would have the welfare of
\nthe entire Country at heart; National Leaders of integrity who would rise above
\npetty personal and ethnic interests so as to forge a united Nation that would
\nshine among other Nations as a place of peace, prosperity and integrity. Our
\nfounding fathers expected those who would come after them to keep the dream
\nalive and move the Country forward to <\/div>\n
\neven
\ngreater heights. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nWhat
\nwe need to ask ourselves now is: Is our Country heading in the right direction
\nthat will bring development and prosperity to all Kenyans? Have things in Kenya
\ndeveloped the way our founders envisaged or are there serious shortcomings and
\npitfalls that need to be addressed urgently? Are the present leaders we have
\nliving up to the standards required so as to deliver the promises made and meet
\nthe aspirations of all Kenyans? <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nWithout
\ndoubt there are some strides made towards the right direction. However, a quick
\nglance at the present situation of our Country reveals some dangerous trends
\nand practices that should make everyone who has this country at heart concerned
\nand wonder whether those principles and ideals that our forefathers fought and
\ngave their lives for are not going down the drain. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n3. INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL
\nCOURT (ICC) RULING <\/b><\/div>\n
\nDuring
\nour Plenary Assembly we received the news of the outcome of the ICC case
\ninvolving our Deputy President and a Journalist. As Catholic Bishops, we see
\nthe ruling, not as an outcome of winners and losers. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nHowever,
\nthe outcome of the ruling does not resolve the cause and pain of the violence.
\nWe realize that the trauma of the post-election violence has not been fully
\nhealed. Moreover, many of the displaced persons still have not gotten justice.
\nOur appeal to the National Government and other County Governments, is to offer
\nsolutions for the victims, through compensations and plans of reconciliation
\nand integration. This is an opportunity for Kenya to sincerely demonstrate its
\ncommitment of NEVER again to take the Country back to the dark days of
\n2007\/2008, to be more conscious of the plight of the victims, to invest more in
\nbuilding true reconciliation and work towards a truly united Nation. It must
\nnever be forgotten that many people lost their lives; thousands more were displaced
\nand have never gone back to normal life. In this Year of the Jubilee of Mercy,
\nKenya has the opportunity to initiate a new beginning. This must be our concern
\nand our focus. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n4. CORRUPTION: A DISEASE
\nTHAT IS MAKING US A SICK NATION <\/b><\/div>\n
\nThe
\ncancer of corruption is killing our Country. The ordinary men and women are
\nbearing the burden of corruption. The majority of Kenyans are wallowing in
\npoverty and are unable to meet their basic needs. They don’t have access to
\nproper medical care. They lack adequate educational facilities and enough
\nteachers for quality education. The youth see no future because of unemployment
\nand even where there is the possibility of jobs they have to pay bribes and kickbacks
\nto secure those jobs. Similarly, unless they know somebody high up nobody will
\nconsider them. The daily revelations and exposure of corrupt deals and stealing
\nof money from public coffers by top Government officials, paints a picture of
\nhow low we have sunk as a Country. The fact that the cancer has spread to all arms
\nof government and is going on in both national and County Governments, as well
\nas other sectors of the Kenyan society, tempts one to despair and to give up
\nwithout a fight. We can’t give up. Now is the time to rise and face this
\nmalignant disease with all the weapons we have. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nPope
\nFrancis, during his visit to Kenya last year decried this sickness and pointed
\nout that the only way to root out corruption is by each one of us saying
\n“Non to corruption. The Pope called upon all of us to declare war on
\ncorruption and fight to the end. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nCorruption
\ncannot be weeded out by half-hearted measures. It has to be a total war using
\nall the means that we have as a Country. Nobody should be spared beginning from
\nthe top to the bottom, the mighty or the least, those who have and those who have
\nnot. All those mentioned as kingpins of corruption must be investigated and
\nprosecuted when facts are proven. Those holding public positions and linked
\nwith corruption must step aside immediately to pave way for investigation. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n5. STEALING OF EXAMINATION
\nPAPERS AND CHEATING IN SCHOOLS <\/b><\/div>\n
\nThe
\nExamination leakages, the selling of examination papers and sharing these
\nexamination papers witnessed last year constituted one of the worst forms of
\ncorruption that this Country has ever experienced. Cheating in exams has far
\nreaching consequences not only for our education system but the integrity of
\nthe Country itself. The people involved in this racket have punctured the
\nintegrity of our education. Stealing examination papers will kill the reading
\nculture of our students and make meaningless <\/div>\n
\ntheir
\neffort to study and the quest for knowledge that is at the heart of learning. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAll
\nthose officials involved in the racket should not only be sacked but should be
\nbrought to book and punished accordingly for this is a crime against our
\nbeloved Nation and a crime against the future of the children of this Country. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nIt
\nis incumbent upon the new Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Board to
\nredeem the image and dignity of our education standards. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n6.         JUDICIARY AND INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL AND BOUNDARIES COMMISSION
\n(IEBC) <\/b><\/div>\n
\nWe
\nare appalled by the information that those very institutions that bear the most
\nnecessary responsibilities of our Country are now rotting away with corruption.
\nAllegations of corruption have been levelled against the Judiciary, and what is
\nmore, against the highest Court in the land, the Supreme Court. So where do we
\ngo for justice? <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe
\nElection process is one of the most important activities of any country, to
\npromote good governance and democracy. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries
\nCommission is such an important institution to oversee this process, that when
\nit is also riddled with corruption and incompetence, then our democracy and
\nfuture growth of this nation is in danger. There is need on the part of all of
\nus and especially those involved to make them more effective in accordance with
\nthe constitution in order to restore their credibility and confidence. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nTHE POLICE <\/b><\/div>\n
\nThe
\nendemic corruption in the Police Service and other security agencies is yet another
\nof those diseases that have eaten into the fabric of our Nation, thereby
\nexposing Kenyans to the perennial threats of terrorism, insecurity and
\nviolence. This is clearly obvious to Kenyans in the bribes exchanged at police
\ncheck points and stations. Our borders are not <\/div>\n
\nsecure,
\nour roads are mere collection points, our towns and villages are not safe.
\nKenyans do not feel safe. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nKenyans!
\ngive no bribe, receive no bribe! <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nPOLITICAL LEADERS <\/b><\/div>\n
\nIf
\nthe very institutions constitutionally appointed to oversee the affairs of Kenyans
\nare now deeply involved in the disease of corruption and the rot of our nation,
\nthen we are left wondering to whom to turn. If the very legislators elected to
\nrepresent the Kenyans, in formulating policies of developing lives are
\naccomplices in Corruption, shuttling around the country, making inciting
\nstatements that raise political temperatures especially when elections are
\nnear, then our country is sick. We must put an end to this. We, the Catholic
\nBishops wish to raise our voices to our political leaders and say, this must
\nstop. Let us stop bleeding our Country to death. As your shepherds we are not going
\nto allow our Churches and institutions to become platforms of political
\nrhetoric, campaign venues, foul language and hideouts for looted funds and
\ncorrupt monies. We <\/div>\n
\nappeal
\nto the consciences of all our leaders, those heading constitutional commissions,
\ninstitutions and bodies, our leaders in the executive, the Judiciary and the
\nlegislature to seriously remember the duty incumbent upon them and to realize
\nthat this is our Country. We are all part of it. If it sinks, we sink together.\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n7. RADICAL ETHNICITY <\/b><\/div>\n
\nWhile
\ntribalism has been a problem in Kenya, the way ethnicity is being radicalized
\ntoday is very worrying. This is clearly seen in political alliances that are
\nnot so much based on the coming together of like- minded individuals or groups
\nbut on bringing together various tribes so that they can vote as blocs. It is
\nalso evident whenever an action is taken <\/div>\n
\nagainst
\nan individual, who has done some malpractices, immediately the cry is heard
\nthat he or she is being punished, or removed, because he or she comes from that
\ntribe or the other. Another area that tribalism is being practiced without
\nshame is in the Counties. To be employed in the County one has to come from the
\ndominant tribe or clan. Some Kenyans are being termed as minorities in some Counties
\nhence tribalism has been devolved and is now entrenched in the Counties. We are
\nnow looking at everything from the prism of ethnicity. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n8. CULTURAL RADICALIZATION
\nOF THE YOUTH <\/b><\/div>\n
\nIn
\nthe recent past, we have witnessed an alarming rate of the radicalization of
\nyouths into dangerous groups and activities that have created insecurity and
\ndeviant behaviour. The information that many young people are being lured into
\nevents and activities that expose them to immorality and cultural decadence is
\nworrying us all. We are seeing a culture that endorses immorality spreading all
\nover the Country. We note with sadness the use of indecent and vulgar language by
\nthose who are in position of leadership. This is giving a bad example to the
\nyoung people. What is more worrying is the organized corruption of <\/div>\n
\nthe
\nyouth through bribery, supply of drugs and promotion of sexual immorality in
\ndesignated places. Parents seem to have abdicated their parental role and
\nneglected the upbringing of their children in the morally accepted ways. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nWe
\nare concerned that while we witness this decadence there is a tendency to
\nconveniently side-line religion in schools, and the role of the Church in our
\nEducation institutions. We condemn very strongly those who corrupt the youth by
\ndistributing money and drugs. We are consequently moving towards a Godless
\nsociety, where there is no regard for all objective roles that characterize a
\ncivilized Nation. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAs
\nyour shepherds, we call upon you the young people of Kenya, to heed the
\npowerful message of Pope Francis at Kasarani. You must not waste your lives. Do
\nnot give in to the devil. Look to Christ as your model and refuse to be lured
\nby the passing pleasures of this world. As your shepherds we commit ourselves
\nto journey with’ you and help you to have <\/div>\n
\nhope
\nand recognize your dignity. We urge all those who work with and for the young
\npeople to help them cherish their hopes and aspirations. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n9. “THE LOVE OF MONEY
\nIS THE ROOT CAUSE OF EVIL” (1 Tim. 6: 10) <\/b><\/div>\n
\nOur
\nsociety has turned money into a god. Some People tend to live for money and
\ntheir philosophy is to have as much money as possible, as quickly as possible
\nand in any way possible. The madness to make more and more money is permeating
\nall levels of our society. Those entrusted with National and County resources are
\nplundering these resources without blinking an eye. We call upon the citizens
\nof this Country to be <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nvigilant
\nand expose all the thieves who should then be made to return the money they
\nhave stolen and made to face the law. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nCONCLUSION <\/b><\/div>\n
\nDear
\nKenyans, we encourage you not to lose hope. Christ has gained victory over
\ndespair. We must never slacken in our determination to make Kenya a home for
\nall of us. Let us all fight the evil within us, let us commit ourselves
\nindividually and collectively to reject any form of corruption that is
\ndestroying our social fabric. We urge all God loving people, of all religions,
\nfaiths and confessions, to take the lead in fighting evil. As your Church
\nleaders we are prepared to join and support efforts to create a society of
\nlove, peace and integrity. May the message of Pope Francis burn within the
\nhearts of all people of Kenya like the Emmaus Disciples and inspire us into
\naction. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAs
\nwe conclude we pray invoking the Prayer of Pope Francis to the Jubilee of
\nMercy, “that the Lord may send his Spirit and consecrate every one of us
\nwith its anointing so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the
\nLord, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim
\nliberty to captives and the oppressed and restore sight to the blind.” <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nSigned: Rt Rev. Phillip
\nAnyolo<\/b><\/div>\n
\nChairman
\n\u2013Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops\/Homa Bay<\/div>\n
\nDate:
\nApril 8th 2016 <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. John Oballa Owaa, Vice Chairman- (KCCB)\/Ngong <\/div>\n
\nHis
\nEminence John Cardinal Njue, Nairobi <\/div>\n
\nMost
\nRev. Zacchaeus Okoth, Kisumu <\/div>\n
\nMost
\nRev. Peter Kairo, Nyeri <\/div>\n
\nMost
\nRev. Martin Kivuva Musonde, Mombasa <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Cornelius Arap Korir, Eldoret <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Joseph Mairura Okemwa, Kisii <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Alfred Rotich, Military Ordinariate <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Maurice Crowley, Kitale <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Norman Wambua King’oo, Bungoma <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Peter Kihara, IMC, Marsabit <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. David Kamau Ng’ang’a, Aux. Bishop Nairobi <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Anthony Ired Mukobo, IMC, lsiolo Vicariate <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Virgilio Pante, Maralal <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Salesius Mugarnbi, Meru <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Emmanuel Okombo, Kericho <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Anthony Muheria, Kitui\/ Apostolic Administrator, Machakos <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. James Maria Wainaina, Murang’a <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Paul Kariuki Njiru, Embu <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba, Nakuru <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Dominic Kimengich, Lodwar <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Emmanuel Barbara, Malindi <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Joseph Mbatia, Nyahururu <\/div>\n
\nRt.
\nRev. Joseph Alessandro, Garissa <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nRt.
\nRev. Joseph Obanyi Sagwe, Kakamega<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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