Catholic church calls for peaceful talks ahead of Azimio demos

Religious leaders under the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, have called on Kenyan leaders to hold peace talks ahead of the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya peaceful protests slated for tomorrow, Monday, March 20, 2023.

In a statement dated Sunday, March 19, 2023, the leaders led by Mombasa Archbishop Rev Martin Kivuva Musonde noted that the demos were posing a serious threat to the country's peace and stability.

Kivuva said the country was facing way too many problems to compound them with the risk of violence. He implored leaders to find ways of solving issues amicably within the constraints of the constitution for the sake of Kenyans.

"We as Kenyan citizens, are faced by way too many problems as a country, majorly famine and hunger, and cost of living. As we try to solve them, we neither wish to compound them with the risk of violence,

"There are many merit-worthy problems we must address, ills we must criticize, unkept promises we must challenge, but these must be done within the constraints of the Constitution," he stated.

Kivuva also appealed to Kenyan leaders to sit and dialogue on a better approach to handling issues rather than stage protests. He reiterated that Azimio chief Raila Odinga should seek other avenues of addressing issues.

The man of cloth additionally urged Kenyans to uphold peace and refuse to "be lured into the past politics of confrontation, violence and of seeking justice by looting and destruction of property,"

Further, Kivuva called out the president for his long list of CASs appointed to respective positions. He claimed that the move was inconsiderate given the lean times Kenyans were facing.

"We urge the President and his government to address the pleas of the distressed Kenyan people. Enough food must reach those facing Famine and the cost of living must be contained,

"We also call out the in-opportunity of bloating further our public expenditure, by appointing a huge number of Chief Administrative Secretaries, in a time Kenyans are struggling to survive! How can we expect Kenyans to now heed to the call of Government to contribute for the support of those faced with hunger?!" he added.