| We appeal to all persons of goodwill
to keenly observe the situation so that during this election year,
your vote will be a vote for peace and unity. Use it as a weapon
and also as a tool. As a weapon to fight those who encourage violence
and as a tool to elect leaders who promote the greater good of the
human person and upholds the God given dignity. May God bless this
country |
|
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PRESS STATEMENT
The Deteriorating Security Situation in Kenya
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The Kenya Episcopal Conference has in the past issued statements
to the public condemning violence in whatever state it has manifested
itself, from ethnic clashes, district border conflicts and general
violence. These calls have not been heeded and what we now see is
a total breakdown of public security. We are now worried that this
situation has worsened to the point that hallowed precincts are
no longer respected nor protected, as it happened in the attack
on Sunday the 15th of this month in Bogiakumu Catholic Centre of
Nyabururu Parish, Kisii Diocese. This would be considered as sacrilegious
act and most unacceptable worldwide.
We will not get tired of repeating over and over again to the
government that it has the principle duty to protect its citizens.
For citizens to take arms against other citizens shows a profound
failure in the country's security mechanism and hence failure
of government to protect it own citizens. The economy may collapse;
our health and education systems may collapse, but if we also
collapse our basic human survival instinct, then there is something
very wrong in our governance systems.
As we issue this statement, more people have been killed in Isiolo
and in the Gucha and Transmara border in the last few days. This
has been the trend of this government to turn a deaf ear to calls
for action such as this one. Violence has been used as a means
of coercion, as it tends to expose every individual's vulnerability.
It has a genesis and as such instrumental to an individual or
a group of individuals. To control violence therefore requires
a deliberate and firm action by the state security system. When
this is absent, we read in it a lethargically desperate system
that will sacrifice its own citizens in the altar of political
expediency. In other words, it sends strong signals as to the
government's moral and philosophical basis of its existence.
We mourn and express our solidarity with the families that have
lost their beloved ones in this senseless violence and pray for
the souls of the departed. We appeal to well wishers to donate
foodstuffs and emergency assistance to the displaced in Isiolo.
We pray for the aggressors, that they may have a change of heart
and seek repentance. For those who have sponsored this violence
we pray for you. For those who have stood by and neglected their
duty for which the public pays them to do, we ask you to re-examine
your conscience.
We appeal to all persons of goodwill to keenly observe the situation
so that during this election year, your vote will be a vote for
peace and unity. Use it as a weapon and also as a tool. As a weapon
to fight those who encourage violence and as a tool to elect leaders
who promote the greater good of the human person and upholds the
God given dignity. May God bless this country.
[Signed]
Archbishop John Njenga
Chairman, Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, Tuesday, 17 September
2002
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