Sunday, July 25, 2010

Gitari, Njoya invite 'No' clerics to debate on 'truth'

By Beauttah Omanga and James Ratemo

Two retired clerics who were outspoken critics of Kanu's draconian one-party rule want to face-off in a live television debate with church officials opposed to the Proposed Constitution. Former Anglican Archbishop David Gitari, and retired Presbyterian Church of East Africa Moderator Dr Timothy Njoya, challenged the ‘No’ wing of the Kenyan church to a ‘truth’ contest to be televised live on two twin issues clerics use to campaign against the draft; Kadhi courts and abortion.

They said if the Church’s ‘No’ team does not pick up the gauntlet they have thrown at their feet, then they are ‘cowards’. Virtually all Kenya’s top church leaders are in ‘No’ — led by the head of Catholic Church Cardinal John Njue, the Anglican Primate Eliud Wabukala, National Council of Churches of Kenya Secretary General Peter Karanja and ten of the country’s top televangelists, including Margaret Wambui, John Nganga, Wilfred Lai, Pius Muiru, and Mark Kariuki.

The two retired clerics who stole the headlines at the height of former ruling party Kanu’s draconian one-party rule, by courageously taking up human rights issues when it was almost a taboo to do so, said the live debate would expose the purveyors of truth, and those funneling lies through the land.

They said it would be an the open debate, moderated by the media, and would allow Kenyans judge for themselves which side of the Church was truthful — those in Yes’ or those asking the faithful to vote ‘No’ at the August 4 referendum.

Lost sheep

"We are challenging our brothers in the ‘No’ side, the men of the cloth, to face us next Sunday for a live debate on the contents of the Proposed Constitution. We are ready for those who are saying we are the lost sheep, while they assume they are on the right path," declared Gitari who was Kenya’s third Anglican primate.

Njoya who received his PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1971, and a Doctorate in Divinity from Knox College, University of Toronto, in 1998, said: "We should be ready to face each other before cameras in a duel for the truth." Gitari, is an alumnus of the University of Nairobi, and holder of an honorary Doctorate in Divinity from University of Kent.

But in a quick rejoinder Canon Karanja told them to keep off Church matters claiming they have gone astray.

"Njoya and Gitari are retired Generals and should not purport to speak on behalf of the Church. Their positions are personal and the Church is clear it will not support a defective law," said Karanja. He dismissed calls for a debate as proposed by the two, saying Kenyans will decide at the ballot.

Karanja vowed the Church will not waver in its quest to defeat the proposed laws, despite plea from a section of clergy and political class. In an interview with The Standard, Karanja announced the Catholic Church would hold a final public prayer for the clergy in the ‘No’ campaign at Nairobi’s Holy Family Basilica on Friday.

"Our concerns are valid...the clauses on abortion leave loopholes and abortion is likely to go on unabated on the basis of flimsy excuses...the Church is determined to vote ‘No’ and ensure the anomalies were corrected," said Karanja.

But Gitari and Njoya, who said if the Church leaders fail to convince viewers of the televised contest it would mean they were unfit to lead their flock, argued it was wrong to paint them as a spent force. Instead, they said, they should be looked upon for spiritual, guidance or opinion on weighty matters.

Fake doctors

"We might be retired but not tired. We are even more qualified to speak on religious matters than scores of today’s clergy who are street preachers," said Dr Njoya.

He added: "I am the most learned theologian, not only in Kenya, but the entire world. I studied the Bible more than those who are saying we should not talk about the Bible and issues of the constitution."

Njoya claimed some of the ‘Dr’ titles used by the current crop of church leaders before their names were ‘fake’ or bought in Nairobi streets. Together with Gitari, they also hit out at the Church’s ‘No’ leadership, claiming it was made up of liars and traitors.

"They have tainted the Church by dining with liars and thieves," claimed Gitari, adding: "They have no moral authority to ask why we are for the Proposed Constitution because when we started the battle, they were nowhere."

Gitari and Njoya who joined other Katiba Sasa team members for a press conference, defended the Government’s use of civil servants to campaign for the proposed laws.

But in a statement read by Tom Kagwe, the other members were of the view civil servants should keep off the exercise in line with public service regulations.

The group called on Kenyans to turn up in large numbers and ensure the new constitution got a majority approval to avoid any legal changes.

"We want the new constitution to pass with an over 70 per cent vote, but not a mere win. A slim win margin will be precarious," warned Njoya.

No comments:

Post a Comment