Clergy can’t be neutral arbitrator in Ruto, Raila wars

The evangelical wing of the Kenyan Christian community stakes considerable claim to the Ruto presidency. Evangelical clergy preach that they “prayed” for Ruto into power. In fact, the Ruto presidency has ominously packaged itself as an “act of God,” and a “product of prayer.”

This is a very convenient narrative in a country where majority of its citizens are Christians and proletariat.
It accords the national leadership with some sort of messianic clothing and rationalises actions on religious thinking, upbringing and associations. Kenyans postulate to be God-abiding nation.

Indeed, the preamble of our Constitution, our governing document and social contract, acknowledges supremacy of the Almighty God of all creation. The national anthem is a prayer. This places religion right at the core of our values and governance. President William Ruto, a Bible-carrying Christian, has a symbiotic relationship with the evangelicals to whom he has been donating tonnes of money.

Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua has been patronising pulpits every Sunday where his troops have been hurling insults to opponents as the host clergy clap with disturbing ease. By their intricate, if intimate, association with the presidency, the evangelicals in a sense share the successes or failures of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

The other religious communities have been ambivalent in their relationship with the presidency, notably the Catholics and Seventh Day Adventists. It is the evangelists that have embraced this presidency lock, stock and barrel. Today, Kenya is dangerously tittering towards the brink of abyss due to competing political interests disguised as a push for public and social good by a privileged elite.

As editors of the leading media houses warned on Thursday in a joint editorial, the nation presently stands on the precipice. “Unless reason prevails, we could all very well tumble down into a dark and dangerous abyss from which it could be almost impossible to extricate ourselves,” they warned.

According to the editors, Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga who are the main protagonists in the conflict which has led to loss of lives, must consider whether they want more blood in their individual hands. The two must acknowledge that the sparks of conflagration have already been lit, and it is upon them both that lies the greatest responsibility to put out the fire before it spreads out of control.

“This is not about blame games or continuing political contestation, but about the simple acknowledgement that Kenya could burn unless the voices of reason prevail.” The country is yearning for voices of reason but where are they. These must be neutral arbiters, patriotic and courageous men and women of wisdom capable of speaking the truth warring groups.

In the 2007 conflict, it took sages and friends from other African countries—the late Kofi Annan, Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel-to pull us from the brink. The clergy has stepped up with offer to arbitrate between the two men.

Another offer has come up from the Law Society of Kenya and sections of the business community. But is the church qualified to provide guidance on this conflict? With all due regard for the men of the cloth, there is a strong argument that by dint of their involvement in either the politics of Kenya Kwanza or Azimio they cannot be impartial arbitrators in the conflict.

The erosion of the church as a moral voice largely influenced by huge appetites for money from politics cannot be understated.

The church has sold its soul for 30 pieces of silver. Their pulpits have been ready for politicians spreading hatred, division, discord and blatant lies. The perception that the church is the citadel of the most honest people is a misplaced exaggeration. As it stands today, clergy can’t wear that band of neutrality. The solution lies in a resilient, courageous and empowered people to step out and take back their country from a selfish political elite.