KENYA: Bishop Rotich Decrys trend of Killings in the Country

NAIROBI, JUNE 21, 2019 (CISA) – Bishop Alfred Rotich, Emeritus of Kenya Military Ordinariate, emphasized on the need to respond to the duty call of making life liveable and bearable to each other.

Speaking during the launch of the dialogue “In defence of human dignity and sanctity of life: Our Moral Responsibility” dubbed Linda Maisha Campaign on June 19 at Ufungamano House, Bishop Rotich decried the rising cases of homicide and suicide in the country.

“We have for a better part of the last three years seen untamed rise in the acts of people turning against each other with all manner of crude and refined weapons… why are we working hard to eliminate each other?,” he lamented.

Bishop Rotich noted that with the current trend of killings, “One cannot trust a loved one to guarantee and ensure a safe space and environment within which to live, learn and co-exist in harmony.”

According to a compilation by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), about 90 cases of homicide and suicide have been reported by the media in 2019.

He urged members of the society to express genuine concerns for the vulnerable among them and to positively respond to the needs of the weak, those suffering from depression and other forms of sickness.

Bishop Rotich further called on leaders and other partners to come up with components to create a more tolerant, fair and just societies, and also embrace values that enhance human dignity.

“Let us commit to support others to live a life of dignity by providing supportive solutions to our humanity’s collective challenges in the family, at work and other environments,” he said.

The Inter-Religious and Community Dialogue on Human Dignity and Right to life was a collaborative initiative of the Inter-Religious Peace Network, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, Civil Society Reference Group and CitizenGo.