From: Francis Tome
Date: Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 12:18 PM

Dear Sir/Madam,

Going by the recent bits and pieces from a section of the clergy it becomes abundantly clear that the most surreal aspect of our great constitutional debate is the Beltway credence given to the ravings of the seemingly apolitical and unrepentant religious blunderers. They have made it their sole business to constantly erect road blocks by way of rushing to court to emasculate us in our collective efforts to midwife a new constitutional order. And now they have the audacity to imperiously and tardily demand for minimum constitutional reforms rather than the constitutional overhaul that the country is in dire need of!

If my mind serves me right the same clergy was and has been in the forefront in clamoring for a total overhaul of the constitution. And now they have seen the light, and changed from Paul to Saul. It cannot be the other way round. That is why the pulpy clergy are harping from the pulpit and in many other available forums; “No to comprehensive constitutional reforms! We want minimum constitutional reforms” This is extremely ridiculous. I am convinced that behind this facade are certain political big wigs who are deeply anti-reformists. The question that bothers many people is why this section of the clergy continues to harbor extremely cynical views of the Kenyan electorate. Why unashamedly engage in political ping pong with the constitution making process? It is not difficult to explain their sudden change of heart.

They all along hoped that by engaging in all manner of antics, they will force the Committee of Experts (CoE) into a last minute, cut-and-paste exercise that will favour their political disposition. Their collective actions and inactions are not only embarrassing them as leaders but also the church as a whole. They must be reminded that the church is not a political party that demands that all its members must take a similar political view on an issue. So whose interests are they representing? Theirs would be a lousy way to run even a chicken farm. It’s an unconscionable way to run the church. But then this was not entirely unexpected since most of these clergy manage their churches just like a Stock Exchange. I would love to think that there might be someone out there who would at long last put that case loud and clear to the this pretentious lot before they get more opportunity to peddle their deeply depressing opinion.

If left unchecked they will adamantly and deliberately refuse to see that failure in adopting a new constitution poses adverse monumental and multilateral effects for this country. They will continue to lay blame at the feet of the two principals and resort to using all manner of whimsical and unconventional adjectives to convey their powerful rush of emotions. They will call them “moribund and ineffective” but at the same time engage in impious antics to deny the nation that which is central to its stability.

TOME FRANCIS,

BUMULA CONSTITUENCY.

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Subject: CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS: THE CLERGY IS GIVING THE FAITHFUL A POISONED CHALICE.