from: Bishop Washington Ogonyo
to: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

As church leaders within Nyanza region comprising of 200 churches, we are advocating for peace and tranquility before, during and after this year’s General Election slated for August.

This is because in the absence of peace, nothing good can be witnessed for example businesses may be disrupted, No going to places of worship as well as no proper movement of the people across the various parts of the country hence we are appealing to the Government and the opposition to initiate true dialogue on the matter of amending the current electoral laws which is to benefit all Kenyans.

It is good for both the Government to come up with electoral laws which are accepted across the board.

There should be no such laws seen to be favoring either of the political divide as the Country is approaching this year’s polls.

We are in full agreement with the retired Reverend Timothy Njoya’s sentiment that the religious leaders across the country should act as mediators so as to help in unlocking the current impasse on the issue of electoral laws amendments hence strongly opposed to the recent sentiments of our two brothers Bishop Gerry Kibarabara and Bishop Stephen Ndicho who have openly supported the issue of manual back up in the electoral system.

Retired Reverend Njoya has called on all the religious leaders across the country to help in settling the matter in an amicable way without confusing Kenyans and this should be the best approach on this issue currently at hand.

We appeal to them to rescind such a decision for the sake of the Kenyan people since the duo clergy seems to have taken sides on this matter rather than acting as mediators to help in bringing peace between the two parties which are both the Government and Opposition.

“If you find your two brothers fighting then the best thing for you to do as a church minister is to play a role of mediator and you should not lean on one side to show that you are partisan.”

The move by the Interfaith Council of Kenya is not a healthy one because it seems to be presenting partisanship which as religious leaders is very much opposed to.

The Bible in the Book of Mathew 5:9 says” Blessed are the peace makers because they shall be called sons of God”.

Let the religious leaders to be the salt of the world and not to confuse the world.

Signed by: Arch-Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede

National Chairman Nyanza Council of Churches Leaders.