KENYA: Remain Apolitical in the Face of Political Tensions in Country, Nuncio Urges Clergy

By Paschal Norbert

ISIOLO, APRIL 25, 2023 (CISA)- “We as a church; bishops, priests, all of us need to stand ready to serve. We don’t need to rule. We don’t need the money because the Christ, which is the greatest prize that we receive does not come from man but from God alone,” urged Archbishop Hubertus Maria van Megen, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan.

Speaking in Isiolo on April 22, the nuncio implored the clergy to be guided by the Church’s prophetic role, which involves addressing social issues with great clarity and urgency, demanding action and situating itself as a community in contrast to the established institutions of society.

“We as a church, we are called to call people to peace. We as a church should never step into the political rivalry as such. We should never support one party or the other. We should never accept money from politicians as sometimes happens. We should not be bought we should be free,” counselled the nuncio.

“We should be neutral. We should stand for the values of peace, of Justice, of transparency, of love, of service to the country. All the rest is futile and nil and will lead us to hell in a future world but also hell here,” he implored.

The sentiments of Archbishop van Megen come in the wake of a fresh call by the Kenyan opposition parties to begin another round of demonstrations against the government of President William Ruto on May 2, 2023.