Kenyan Church to pursue contentious issues

Written By:Lawrence Njenga/Rose Kamau , Posted: Thu, Aug 05, 2010


The Kenyan church has vowed to continue pursuing the issues that made it reject the proposed constitution.

While commending Kenyans for coming out in large numbers and voting peacefully, the Church said the over two million Kenyans who rejected the draft were those demanding that the anomalies in the proposed constitution be addressed before it was passed.

The church paid tribute to those who lost their lives during a No rally at uhuru Park while at the same time expressing concern that the pre-referendum process was marked by malpractices and irregularities which continued right into the balloting and tallying phases.

The leaders who issued a joint statement under the umbrella of the National Council of Churches of Kenya questioned the validity of the document claiming that only about 30% of the registered voters endorsed the proposed constitution.

The church maintained its stand that the various contentious issues contained in the document cannot be validated by the passing of the document adding that the issues must be addressed soon.

The church however wants Kenyans to remain peaceful and united regardless of which side they are on.

The head of the Catholic Church in Kenya said while the Yes may have carried the day, that does not stop the voice of the church on the moral issues they were advocating against.

Similar views were made by NCCK Secretary General Canon Peter Karanja who says the church position will remain despite the outcome of the referendum.

The church was opposed to the draft due to the inclusion of the Kadhis' courts and the clause on abortion.