Keep off Issues That Will Undermine Peace, Eldoret Clergy Tell Politicians

The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has stepped up its engagements with religious leaders in a bid to promote a peaceful electioneering period ahead of the August 9 poll.

NCCK on Saturday held a seminar with a section of the clergy from Eldoret town, where calls for peace were reiterated.

Speaking during the meeting, the NCCK North Rift Chairperson Rev. Daniel Barno said, “Leaders and politicians should keep away from issues that might undermine peace, separation, and war in the country regardless of the tribes. Elections come and go and life continues.”

He also requested politicians to stop undermining their opponents based on their level of education, while also calling for honesty and transparency in their certification.

The NCCK chairperson also advised the youth not to be used by politicians to cause chaos and violence during political campaigns.

“A vote is a secret and politicians should be given an opportunity to sell their agendas to people,” noted Rev. Barno who affirmed that religious leaders will continue joining hands to spread messages of peace and love.

Sheikh Abu-Bakr Bini, the chairman of Uasin Gishu Interfaith Council, and also the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) chair in the county who was amongst religious leaders in attendance said there was no value that is equivalent to peace.

He urged Kenyans not to fight for politicians and instead reject individuals out to divide them for their selfish gains.

“As a nation, we are here to say categorically that Kenya will remain even after elections. This is the time to show who we are and what we have been preaching as a church,” added Samson Omondi, Presiding Moderator of Kenya Mennonite Church.

On the issue of the rising cost of living in the country, Omondi said, “the government should get a way of cushioning us so that the fuel prices can go down. When fuel prices go down, everything else is affected.”

The religious leaders further expressed the need for every politician to be allowed to campaign freely in any part of the country.

They condemned politicians that have been selling fear and hatred amongst Kenyans, urging them to focus on spreading peace messages while on the campaign trail.