Religious leaders receive President Kibaki on arrival at the KICC, Nairobi, for the inter-religious forum and fund raising meeting on Thursday. About Sh80 million was raised in aid of Nakumatt and Sachang’wan fire victims. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]By Alex Ndegwa and Ally Jamah
The Church versus State wars broke out, with the men of the cloth harshly rebuking President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga "for abetting corruption".
Threatening mass action, the religious leaders told Kibaki and Raila to their faces that Kenyans were disillusioned by their reluctance to punish perceived friends who are "corrupt and greedy".
In a bold move not seen among the clergy in recent years, they regretted that while the public expected the two to punish lawbreakers, the principals were doing the exact opposite.
Such scenes were common in the 1990s, when clergymen such as Henry Okullu, Timothy Njoya and Alexander Muge were a thorn in the flesh for the Kanu Government.
In the 2007 General Election, religious leaders were accused of partisanship, and during post-election chaos, of turning the other way as Kenya burned. Yesterday, Kibaki replied swiftly, saying the blame game was not helpful.
"Let us stop looking for somebody to blame. All of you have jobs to do. It is not that you always look for who is to blame as if you are holy and not guilty. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s not a sensible approach," he said.
The Church and State, forever contesting over the minds and hearts of the people, shared the rare platform at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, during the fundraising and prayers for survivors of Sachang’wan and Nakumatt fire tragedies, in which more than 160 people were burnt to death.
Sh80 million raised
More than Sh80 million was raised to aid in the treatment of those in need of reconstructive surgery.
But this unity of purpose did not last long. Anglican Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi fired the warning shot, saying they would rally Kenyans to mass action to press the Government to tackle grand corruption and impunity.
The Head of State amplified an earlier defence by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Special Programmes Minister Naomi Shaban who criticised religious leaders for selectively apportioning blame.
Said Kalonzo: "We must acknowledge that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
But Raila steered away from controversy, saying disasters offered an opportunity for self-reflection.
But at the memorial service of his father, Jaramogi Odinga in Bondo last week, Raila hit out at the Church when challenged on the conduct of the coalition Government.
Under pressure
The Government has come under pressure due to oil and maize scandals at a time when about ten million Kenyans face starvation.
On Wednesday, Agriculture Minister William Ruto survived a censure Motion in Parliament, where divisions in the Cabinet were exposed. Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale had moved the unsuccessful Motion, alleging the disappearance of thousands of bags of maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board when acute food shortages had pushed thousands to the brink of starvation.
Yesterday, the religious leaders set the tone for the solemn occasion with a call to repentance, warning that the fury of God had descended on Kenyans in the calamities that had befallen the nation.
Five clerics delivered the salvos, one after another, warning that the country was hurtling towards destruction unless the leadership changed its ways.
In a message to the two principals, Bishop Bonifes Adoyo of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya touched a raw nerve when he said Kenyans were concerned with the way the country was being governed.
Following the signing of the National Accord that ended post-election violence earlier last yea r, Adoyo said, Kenyans were optimistic of the best leadership that would unite diverse communities. He added that the two principals were expected to punish those who broke the law regardless of their relationship with those at the top, combat corruption, resettle the displaced and create jobs for the youth.
"However, Kenyans are concerned they are witnessing the opposite. There has been little or no effort in national healing or punishment for those who break the law," Adoyo said.
Reluctant to punish
Turning to Kibaki and Raila, who watched pensively from the dais, he said: "You have been reluctant to punish some of your perceived friends who are corrupt and greedy."
Insecurity and extra-judicial killings had also exposed the vulnerability of Kenyans against the might of the State. "We urge you to take charge and restore equity, justice, unity and dignity of all Kenyans," concluded Adoyo.
Earlier, Prof Abdulghafur El-Busaidy of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims termed politicians "the greatest threat to peace and prosperity". "The political leaders have refused to lead the people to the Promised Land and instead led them to conflict where Kenya teeters on the brink of self destruction," he said.
The cleric accused politicians of dividing Kenyans along ethnic lines, besides increasing their allowances and refusing to pay taxes. "They have created an environment that suffocates Kenya," Abdulghafur said amid applause from the public.
Nzimbi said: "Before we start street marches against corruption, we offer prayers for the nation. We ask those in authority to deal with evils bedeviling our nation."
Kibaki took up the gauntlet in his off-the-cuff address and defended his administration.
"Let us help those in need and pray, but not just blame any other person," he said.
The President caused laughter when he said those who did not keep their word deserved prayers.
Dr Shaban said this was not the time to apportion blame: "We must all take our positions to nurture Kenyans."
Tribal hatred
Earlier, NCCK Secretary-General Peter Karanja urged prayer and repentance, saying tribal hatred was at an all time high. The media were not spared either, with Hindu Council of Kenya’s Rashmin Chitnis accusing them of failing to act responsibly.
Religious leaders from Nyanza said President Kibaki and Raila should be held responsible for grand corruption in Government.
Elsewhere in Kisumu, other clergy said Kibaki and Raila were presiding over a corrupt Cabinet.
ACK Maseno South Diocese Bishop Mwayi Abiero led the clergy in demanding that the two tell Kenyans what they were doing to fight corruption.
ACK Maseno South Diocese Bishop Mwayi Abiero led the clergy in demanding that the two tell Kenyans what they were doing to fight corruption.
Recently, the UK’s Serious Fraud Office reported it had stopped investigation into the Anglo Leasing scam for lack of co-operation from Kenyan authorities.
Source: The Standard
