Monday, August 9, 2010

No need to apologise, Moi tells clerics

By BEATRICE OBWOCHA and RENSON BULUMA

Former President Moi has asked religious leaders to stick to their principles on the new constitution.

Moi wondered why some bishops were apologising for opposing the new law before the referendum vote.

“Christians must stick to their principles and the bishops should not apologise. I took a stand and I am not apologising,” he said. The former Head of State said he knows the implication of issues he opposed in the new constitution.

Tribal lines

He cited the proposed counties, which he feels would divide Kenya along tribal lines.
“There will be governors in each county, but this will strengthen tribal feelings and discrimination all over again,” he said.

He spoke after a Sunday service at AIC Kabarak Community Chapel.
Moi said he knows all corners of the Rift Valley and it is cosmopolitan unlike other areas where one community is dominant.
“He who wears a shoe knows where it pinches. I know this province. Those in homogeneous areas do not understand,” he said.

Meanwhile, church leaders in Busia have dismissed calls for them to apologise over their position during the referendum.

Bible teachings

Led by Bishop George Odhiambo of Christian Discipleship Centre, the clergy said their position on the new law was based on moral values.

“The Church has an obligation to protect moral values as written in the Bible. It is on this basis that we rejected the new constitution,” he said.

He said the church is a universal institution, which transcends Kenyan boundaries and cannot be blamed on the position taken by individual leaders. “It is wrong for anybody to accuse the Church of misleading Kenyans for the position taken on the referendum,” said Odhiambo.

He said church leaders were not called to please men, but to proclaim God’s oracles to men. He also dismissed those claiming the Church was defeated, at the referendum.

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