By Paschal Norbert
ISIOLO, JULY 30, 2024 (CISA) – Catholic bishops have distanced themselves from a petition at the High Court in Nairobi that seeks to initiate a referendum to remove President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua from office.
In a strongly worded statement and in response to the move by 14 petitioners to move to the courts to remove the president, Most Rev Maurice Muhatia Makumba, the chairperson of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) stated that the bishops were included in the petition without prior knowledge and consultation.
In their case, the 14 petitioners argued that President Ruto and his deputy had violated the constitution by allowing extrajudicial killings of the anti-government protesters by police officers.
The archbishop of Kisumu who was speaking at the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Peter Munguti Makau IMC as the Coadjutor bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Isiolo on July 27, compounded that their decision to disaffiliate from the petition was advised by the understanding that the move is ill-advised and won’t amount to anything.
The bishops believe the current crisis being witnessed in the country is not ‘insurmountable’ and hence, the petitioners should reorganize themselves and seek a better way of solving the stalemate than going to the courts.
The prelate maintained that the current climate after the June 25 protests accords the nation an opportunity to find a lasting solution through genuine dialogue and multi-stakeholder consultations.
“This dialogue should not be about sharing political positions but about building a prosperous and inclusive nation where everyone feels they belong, where all embrace constitutionalism and citizens receive value for their taxes,” said Archbishop Muhatia.
Reacting to the development and speaking in Mombasa on July 28, President Ruto noted that he is aware of the petition seeking to remove him from office. He said that the petitioners are free to exercise their democratic rights as enshrined in the constitution and that the courts are free to make a proper determination on the petitions seeking his ouster.
“The 14 Kenyans who have gone to court are exercising their democratic right. That is how free this country is. You can actually go to any court and demand what you want; that is a taste of the freedom that I stand for in Kenya,” stated the president.
