You shall not postpone 2022 elections – Catholic bishops tell government
Catholic bishops through the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has opposed the suspension of the 2020 general elections to allow for constitutional amendments through a referendum.
The 23 clerics spoke on Thursday, May 27 after concluding their plenary assembly at the Marian National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County.
"We propose that to ensure a democratic, constitutional and inclusive process based on law and dialogue and has far reaching constitutional amendments should only be addressed after 2020 general elections,' bishops Martin Kivuva, the chair of KCCB said.
According to the Catholic bishops, holding a referendum barely 437 days to the August 9, 2022 general elections was untenable.
Instead, KCCB proposed for dialogue driven minimum reforms to fix urgent electoral and political issues.
"In the time Kenyans should pursue through Parliament some election reforms to ensure peaceful and prosperous nation in the run up to and after the general elections," the bishops advised.
The statement by the Catholic clerics comes a fortnight after a five judge-bench quashed the constitutional amendment clamor when the High Court declared the BBI process unconstitutional.
Led by Justice Joel Ngugi, the High Court in Nairobi ruled that due process was not followed when President Uhuru Kenyatta created the 14-member BBI steering committee among other considerations it termed unconstitutional.
"We demand that the 2022 general elections proceed as stated in the constitution," the Catholic clerics said.
