GITARI SAYS YES

Retired Anglican Archbishop David Gitari has said the Church risks being defeated at the referendum if it maintains the "No" stand on the Proposed Constitution.

He also warned against turning the referendum into a battle between Christians and Muslims.

The archbishop who retired eight years ago was speaking at the All Saints Cathedral where he called on Kenyans to chose a "lesser evil rather than the greater evil" — according to him, the Proposed Constitution is by far preferable than the current supreme law.

He said: "As a Kenyan and a Christian saying ‘Yes’ to this constitution is evil. But saying "No" will be a greater evil. If I was to choose I will go for the lesser evil," Gitari said.

He said the Church had made serious mistakes in the past and gave the example of the trial of Galileo Galilei who went against the Church’s notion the world was flat, only for the Church to accept years later that it was actually spherical.

"History has proved the Church wrong in various incidences. Even the issue of abortion the Church should not be quick to pronounce judgment, especially where the lives of two are in danger. Instead of letting both die we can save one," said the prelate.

He said Kenyans were faced with the same dilemma before independence when two parties, Kadu and Kanu represented the country at Lancaster House Conference.

Move ahead

"We had to choose a unitary government over majimbo so that Kenyans could have independence. We can do that now by accepting this document so that Kenyans can move ahead," said the Archbishop.

He faulted MPs who agreed at Naivasha only to disagree in Parliament to make crucial amendments.

"When MPs agreed in Naivasha, many Kenyans congratulated them. But they also let us down at the last minute in Parliament when vested interest took centre stage and almost destroyed the good work," he said.

He asked Christians not to be let astray by negative sentiments that may create animosity between Christians and Muslims.

At the same time, Livestock Assistant Minister Aden Duale has told Church leaders opposed to the inclusion of Kadhi’s court in the draft to leave Islam alone.

Trigger animosity

Mr Duale said Kadhi’s courts do not affect Christians and cautioned the clergy they risk triggering religious animosity if they continue dragging Islam into constitution debate.

"We (Muslims) are tired of it. Even if the constitution was rejected, Kadhi’s courts will still operate the way they have always operated. They have never interfered with the Christian faith," said Duale.

He was speaking in Raya, near Garissa Town, where he launched a two-day medical camp organised by Muslim students from the University of Nairobi.