Talks only way out of looming crisis – clerics

Catholic bishops yesterday asked President William Ruto to offer leadership by reaching out to opposition leader Raila Odinga for the sake of peace.

Talks between the two leaders, they said, will avert instability which is likely to worsen the numerous economic challenges bedevilling the nation.

“Our leaders, let us sit down together! Kenyans, let us reason together. We cannot allow our country to recede into disaster. We entrust our country to God and to the responsibility of each one of us,” the bishops said in a statement.

While addressing journalists in separate events, the bishops urged the former Prime Minister to avoid the route of demonstrations and instead seek other avenues to address issues affecting Kenyans.

Led by Philip Anyolo, the Archbishop of Nairobi, the bishops said while the Constitution guarantees the right to rallies and picketing, the freedom does not include forcible takeover or destabilisation of a constitutional government.

Anyolo, in a statement he read after attending St Peter the Rock Church family day in Thika, Kiambu county, urged Raila to retreat and consider embarking on a journey to highlight issues and seek solutions.

Unkept promises

The Archbishop also urged President Ruto to address issue affecting Kenyans, including high cost of living, insecurity and hunger caused by prolonged drought.

“We wish to reiterate the grave concern expressed by all the religious leaders, of the return to politically incited tensions. We warn that we are in real danger of taking the slippery road to anarchy, caused by the incitement of political players. 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,” Anyolo read the statement on behalf of the bishops.

“There are very many merit-worthy problems we must address, ills we must criticise, unkept promises we must challenge, but these must be done within the constraints of our Constitution, with due respect to the Kenyan people, to life, and to each other as leaders,” he added.

Anyolo stressed that the solution to the country’s numerous challenges would only be found if Kenyans and elected leaders humble themselves and agree to dialogue.

“The path to resolve any problems in our country must be exclusively those within the provisions of our Constitution,” he said.

The bishops criticised what they said is the ballooning of public expenditure, by appointing a huge number of Chief Administrative Secretaries, at a time Kenyans when are struggling to survive.

Ruto’s 50 CAS nominees are expected to cost the taxpayer Sh460 million every year in salaries, appointments the bishops described as too costly for a country that is on the verge of financial crisis. “How can we expect Kenyans to now heed the call of the government to contribute for the support of those faced with hunger?” he asked.

Common ground

They urged Kenyans to refuse to be lured into the politics of confrontation, violence and of seeking “justice by looting and destruction of property”.

“We Kenyans must reject the venom of hatred that is becoming commonplace in our politicians’ mouths. In fact we must be ready to walk out of those inciting us to violence, in order to destroy the future of our children. We as a country must decide that we are not going back to that slippery path that leads to violence,” they said.

Elsewhere, Bishop Joseph Obanyi of the Kakamega Catholic Diocese also urged Ruto and Raila to dialogue to unlock the political crisis facing the country.

Obanyi warned that demonstrations and rallies would be detrimental to national cohesion and economic growth and rooted for a common ground for the good of the country. “We are in a volatile situation due to the opposition’s planned demonstrations. The country could be divided down the middle and subsequently stagnate development,” he said.

Bishop Obanyi was speaking in Kakamega town when he held a special mass for the church’s male faithful. He said the two sides should stop chest-thumping and seek reconciliation, saying church leaders were ready to help in mediation.

“Kenyans are already facing massive challenges as a result of hunger and starvation, drought, lack of jobs, widespread insecurity, especially banditry in the North Rift, and political demonstrations will just worsen an already bad situation,” he added.

The cleric said the government can cooperate with the opposition without necessarily compromising its leaders.

“You are at liberty to participate in the demonstrations but know that Tuesday, March 21 still needs you,” he added.

Nyahururu PCEA Presbytery Moderator Rev Michael Kimani also called for talks between the President and the opposition leader. He said the grandstanding by the government and opposition is not good for the country.

Speaking at the Nyahururu town church, Kimani said although it is a constitutional right to demonstrate, Kenyans are not mature enough to hold peaceful picketing.

“We are not mature to the point where we can hold demonstrations without them turning chaotic,” he said.

The cleric said the country should put the electioneering mood behind and concentrate on development and growing the economy.

Kimani urged the President to unite all Kenyans saying the country cannot achieve development if any part of the country or people feel left out. “Time for chest-thumping is over and it is the high time those in the government and those in the opposition sat and agreed on the way forward for the interest of all Kenyans,” he said.

Kimani said leaders in government and the opposition should put the interest of Kenyans above partisan political interest.

“Let us exercise tolerance because if chaos befalls this country it will not spare those in the government or those in the opposition,” he said.