Catholic bishops appeal for peace after court verdict
Catholic church bishops yesterday called on the two protagonists in today’s Supreme Court verdict, Raila Odinga and William Ruto to respect and accept whatever outcome the judges deliver.
Speaking at the Holy Ghost Cathedral in Mombasa during a Sunday mass, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) chair and Mombasa Archdiocese bishop Martin Kivuva also urged Kenyans to remain peaceful after the judgment.
The Azimio la Umoja- One Kenya Coalition party has moved to the Supreme Court seeking invalidation of President-elect Ruto’s declaration as the winner of the August 9 presidential election.
Kivuva thanked Kenyans for maintaining peace during the just-concluded General Election adding that Kenyans should continue with their daily activities and leave politicians as they battle their cases in court.
“We want to pray to the Supreme Court judges to deliver a justice judgment, we as a church have an opportunity to tell Kenyans this is our country and we should remain united and peaceful,” said the Bishop.
Kivuva said the judges verdict can build or destroy Kenya’s democracy, and thus there is need for the church to put them in prayers as they deliver the judgment on the presidential petition.
“We are giving them the responsibility to give us the right judgment, so I pray and we ask all churches to pray with us, we want to put the country in God’s hands so that the country can remain united after whatever the outcome in the Supreme Court,” Kivuva said.
The church expressed optimism that the truth will come out from the judgment.
Harsh economic times
The bishop acknowledged that Kenyans are suffering from harsh economic times and, therefore, there was need for the economic recovery.
“Most Kenyans are back to work and we want to plead that mood to continue, to build the nation and remain resilient on matters of peace and unity,” said Kivuva, challenging the youth not to be persuaded to cause chaos.
Separately, two Catholic bishops also called on Kenyans to maintain peace even as the Supreme Court rules on the petition.
Kisii Catholic diocese bishop Joseph Mairura and his Kakamega counterpart Joseph Obanyi urged political leaders to shun utterances which could incite Kenyans against each other after the seven judges render their ruling today.
The bishops asked Kenyans to pray for the country and the main protagonists in the dispute, Ruto and Raila.
“The winner should be gracious in victory, he should not frown upon the loser or treat them with contempt. I also implore Kenyans not to take the law into their hands,” Bishop Mairura said.
The duo was addressing faithful at the Nyabururu Catholic church in Kisii diocese during the ordination of eight seminarians including Francis Obanyi, Joseph Moronge, Erick Nyang’au, Erick Omae, Jude Magubo, Miachae Mokora, Thomas Nyagucha and Hesbon Okoyo into deacons.
Bishop Mairura appealed to the political class to learn from the past and avoid inciting Kenyans to violence warning that this could adversely affect the economy, lead to loss of lives and divide the country.
Obanyi said Kenyans were still reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the drought and famine ravaging the country at the moment hence the need to shun acts that could lead to violence.
He asked Kenyans to remain calm and urged political leaders to accept the verdict and appeal to their supporters to accept it to enhance the country’s peace, cohesion and stability.
