We won't stop praying for ICC suspects, say clerics

By MOSES NJAGIH

Evangelical churches now say that they have no apologies to make for offering prayers to the International Criminal Court (ICC) suspects.

The churches said they will not stop conducting prayers for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

Pastor Harrison Ng’ang’a leads prayers for Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka at the Christian Foundation Fellowship Church, Nairobi, on Sunday. [PHOTO: TABITHA OTWORI/STANDARD]

Through the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya Chairman Bishop Joseph Methu, the clerics said they had been unfairly targeted by politicians who accuse them of neglecting the victims of post-election violence.

They maintained they had led prayers for the IDPs.

"We believe that our brothers who are facing trial are citizens of this republic and have a right to be prayed for especially when they urge us to pray for them. We have also been praying for the resettlement of those who were displaced in the violence," said Methu.

Methu was speaking on Sunday during the 15th anniversary of the Christian Foundation Fellowship Church in Nairobi, which Ruto and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka attended.

Ruto reiterated his call on Kenyans to pray for them, saying as a Christian he strongly believed in the power of prayers. "We appreciate that you have been praying with us and we will continue because the Bible urges us to always pray without ceasing," said the Eldoret North MP.

Ruto urged the church leaders to pray for the nation especially ahead of the next elections.

"This nation needs visionary leaders who will drive the country towards food sufficiency and creation of jobs for our youth. That is why I am urging you not to turn away from responsibilities of praying," said Ruto.

Foreign countries

Kalonzo said it would be hypocritical for anyone to castigate the church leaders, arguing everyone calls for prayers from time to time.

"We know things will change through our prayers. It would be very bad for people who are not perpetrators of violence to suffer when the real culprits are free," he said.

The VP expressed confidence that the country will never witness electoral violence as happened after the last polls.

"Some foreign countries think that we are animals who are out to butcher one another, but I believe that Kenyans will never again rise against one another," said the VP.