By CISA
NAIROBI, JULY 16, 2024 (CISA)– In the wake of recent protests in Kenya, Catholic bishops have called for a moment of deep listening and discernment following the events that have shaken the nation, urging President Ruto to make decisions in the best interest of the country.
In a press statement dated July 15, 2024, the bishops commended the president for declining to sign the controversial Finance Bill 2024 and his move to dissolve the Cabinet, a step they stated signifies a commitment to addressing critical issues such as the cost of living, unemployment, and corruption.
However, they appealed to the president to appoint reputable individuals who have the people’s interest at heart and can deliver better services to Kenyans.
“We ask the President to make good his promise to consult widely before making appointments to the vacant Cabinet Secretaries positions. We emphasize the need to consider Integrity among other values in the new appointments as stipulated in our Constitution. We also ask the President to reconsider appointments in all other critical public appointments. The new appointments should inspire hope and a fresh start. Besides, they should reflect the face of Kenya as demanded in the Constitution,” the bishops.
The prelates decried the rise in cases of police brutality that has led to the loss of young lives during peaceful protests. They maintained that the nation must learn from the evils of the past that violence and brutality will never solve conflicts while appealing to the police to target goons hired to cause havoc and not peaceful protesters.
“We regret that we lost young lives to police brutality. As we said in our last statement, nothing can justify the killing of the young peaceful protestors. The Lord says, “You shall not murder” (Deut. 5:17). They were unarmed and they were protesting in daylight. We condemn the people behind the killing of the young people and ask the government to ensure the culprits are identified to face the full force of the law,” lamented the bishops.
“As Bishops, we caution the law enforcers to adhere to their code of conduct. No law allows unwarranted arrest, torture, or killing of people,” they emphasized while cautioning the police against being manipulated to do dirty jobs for political expediency.
The bishops highlighted the alarming increase in abductions, describing the situation as disheartening and illegal while calling for the persons responsible for giving illegitimate orders to take personal responsibility and be held accountable.
The Catholic bishops also expressed their support for President Ruto’s stance on combating corruption, particularly his decree against public officers participating in Harambees. They urged for transparency in donations and a return to the original spirit of Harambee, which they said has been lost and abused over the years.
“We are against the politicians misusing the places of worship to gain popularity through display of money. We however realize that if we recover the good spirit of coming together in Harambee, we can assist greatly the needy. We must insist on the accountability of the funds and assurance of where the donations come from,” said the bishops.
The bishops reiterated the importance of respecting sacred spaces, particularly places of worship and funerals. They condemned the use of these venues for political purposes, calling for respect and decorum during such solemn occasions.
Addressing the youth, particularly the Generation Z, the bishops commended their role in driving social change but cautioned against intolerance and divisive conversations. They encouraged the youth to remain inclusive and respectful of different perspectives, emphasizing the importance of building democratic principles.
“You have been instrumental in driving change and highlighting our social ills. You have elicited a national even global conversation on what it means to be a democracy, the kind of leadership that should spur creativity and opportunities for citizens, the values and principles that define our public institutions. We thank you and continue to support you in aspiring for good in our society,” noted the prelates.
They exhorted the young people “ to remember that besides driving for better systems we must drive for social systems that respect God. There is a real risk that as you push for a truly transformative agenda, you become intolerant to ideas and visions that are not similar to yours. Intolerance leads to divisive conversations that can degenerate into anarchy. We, therefore, request that you open up yourselves for inclusive conversations so that you are also enriched by perspectives that may not be obvious to you.”
