NAIROBI JULY 28, 2017(CISA)-Bishop Cornelius Korir, the Chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops-Catholic Justice and Peace (KCCB-CJPC) has asked religious groups and media to strive to unite Kenyans as election nears.
“Religious groups should handle the people well without division. At the same time the media has to handle the voting well without causing chaos. Sometimes we are not aware that we are causing chaos. We don’t want this country to be divided again on ethnicity,” he said.
The Bishop was speaking July 26 during a religious leaders and media engagement on securing the August 8 General Elections at Sarova Stanley Hotel.
He expressed regret that some sections of media and religious group were on the forefront in promoting hatred during the 2008 General Elections and said the mistakes should never be repeated again.
“In 2008 there were some media groups that were really promoting hatred… There were some bishops who were not accepted in particular areas because of the comment they made,” he said.
“We would like to appreciate all Kenyans, all ethnic backgrounds. We are 44 communities in Kenya. How do we bring this 44 together? We have to acknowledge the ethnic background of each group. We have to acknowledge the gift God has given to each group,” he said.
Fr Lucas Ong’esa the Deputy Secretary General KCCB on his part lauded the media for the work it does in the society and asked it to play its role properly in ensuring peaceful elections.
“The role of media during electioneering period is paramount… It is therefore our request that the media being part and one of the institutions in Kenya to be part of the process that can ensure that there is free fare credible and peaceful elections,” he said.
The religious engagement brought together representatives from Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Seventh-Day Adventists Church, National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), Hindu Council of Kenya, Interreligious Council of Kenya, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), Organization of African Instituted Churches and National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK).
