Suleiman Mbatiah | NATION NCCK general secretary Peter Karanja, addresses journalists in Nakuru at the end of the council’s executive committee meeting on March 28, 2012. He said the NCCK supports the March 4, 2013 election date set by the IEBC.
By PETER LEFTIE pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, March 28 2012 at 22:00
Posted Wednesday, March 28 2012 at 22:00
IN SUMMARY
- Church accuses politicians of fuelling ethnic divisions by inciting Kenyans against each other
The clergy on Wednesday warned of a recurrence of the violence that rocked Kenya after the 2007 election unless politicians stopped inciting Kenyans against each other.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), accused politicians of fuelling ethnic tensions through hate speech, tribal mobilisation and demonisation of constitutional institutions.
“The NCCK would like to restate that the chaos that followed the 2007 election was a result of a reckless political class and an inept election management institution,” the church leaders said in a statement signed by general secretary Peter Karanja and chairman Charles Kibicho.
“Kenyans are expressing fears that politicians are leading the country along the same path through hate speech, ethnic mobilisation, grandstanding and more recently demonisation of constitutional institutions,” they added.
The warning comes in the wake of sharp divisions in the government over the election date.
President Kibaki and some Cabinet ministers and MPs support the March 4, 2013, date proposed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission while Prime Minister Raila Odinga insists on a December date.
The country is also divided over the International Criminal Court cases.
“You should refrain from instilling fear and anxiety in your constituencies and sell your vision and mission instead,” the church leaders added.
They also called on Kenyan communities to engage in dialogue to heal the nation.
“We encourage all Kenyans to confront the ethnic realities of our nation head-on by re-evaluating their own interests in the context of the interests of other communities. Communities that have a history of conflict with one another should bring their tensions to the table, confront and resolve them peacefully,” they said.
The church also asked voters to vet candidates running for elective positions especially at the county level “to avoid being stuck and disillusioned for five years with incompetent and corrupt leadership.”
They appealed to President Kibaki and Mr Odinga to provide a climate for peaceful elections and transition.
“At a time of great national emotion, party and vested interests must not be pursued at the expense of holding the nation together and giving the new dispensation a good start,” they said.
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