Church says its ready to unite Uhuru, Ruto and Raila to avert contested referendum
Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) church now says its ready to unite the warring parties in the battle for constitutional amendment to avert a contested referendum.
Pefa Kenya presiding bishop Dr. John Okinda said that as the Building Bridges Initiative secretariat continues to collect the one million signatures of registered voters required to back the draft constitutional amendment Bill, there is still need for dialogue among all parties for a united Kenya.
Okinda stated that the church is ready and will offer its shuttle diplomacy when called upon all in a bid to forge for a united nation.
Speaking at the church’s Thika road branch, the presiding bishop lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta and former prime minister Raila Odinga for considering its views and amending contentious clauses in the earlier document.
Even as the dual launched collection of signatures across the country, the second in command William Ruto insisted that the issues attracting dissent in the report can be resolved adding that the document has sown the seeds of strife, and if left unchecked, it could end up entrenching division through a contested referendum.
However, Pefa church has welcomed changes made in the final report to accommodate the views of the church, pastoralists, a section of politicians and jurists.
Among other things, the church lauded a new bid to have IEBC commissioners selected by a panel as opposed to political parties, the scrapping of proposed Kenya Police Council and retaining the national oversight authority.
"We welcome the positive progress made in adjusting the document for an inclusive Kenya. Even for those that feel as if their proposals were exempted, we are ready to bring them together because we want a united nation," said bishop Okinda.
Others are the introduction of Article 82 that allows parliament to enact legislation disallowing political parties from having more than two-thirds of their candidates being from the same gender.
Okinda rooted for forgiveness among Kenyans by embracing the spirit of peace, love and unity even as he promised that the church will continue praying that the country battles out the attack of Covid-19 pandemic.
At the same time, he called on Kenyans to adhere to all the Ministry of Health stipulated protocols of social distancing, putting on masks and sanitizing frequently.
Meanwhile, the church urged the government through the National Hospital Insurance Fund to reconsider its earlier decision of failing to offer medical cover for Covid-19 patients.
