Gen Kombo,
There are some campaigns that I enjoy, not because they are academic, but because they are real.
One such real case is the current debate about the Proposed Constitution.
In 2005, Cardinal Njue and Cannon Karanja led the Banana Campaign from the pulpit in a campaign that was meant to give us the Wako Draft. The current provisions on the Kadhi’s Courts and on Abortion are simply as they were in the Wako Draft that Kenyans rejected. What was then that is not now?
In 2007, the church took sides again and each priest supported his tribesman, not God. They defied all etiquette on truth and the sanctity of the truth setting us free never applied to them. They failed us miserably at a time we needed spiritual nourishment and sound judgement. They failed to tell those who stole the elections off. They instead pretended that all was well, and as many as 1133 innocent Kenyans were killed as a consequence. 350,000 more were displaced and property of unknown value was destroyed; simply because the church leadership chose to serve man and not God.
And they seem not to have learnt anything. The fact that they are given TV coverage confuses them that they are talking for many of us. The sad reality will again come to pass.
Honestly, these are not the people to tell me what is right and what is wrong, for they do not know what is right and what is wrong. They only know how to take sides. Their past mistakes makes it difficult for me to trust in their current judgement. If they could get it so wrong twice, what will convince me that they will get it right now.
Secondly, we had all the time before this draft was agreed on and passed. How come people like Mutava Musyimi chose to keep their peace instead of talking in parliament?
You say that we faithfully listen to our clergy and confirm our belief in them by giving our tithe. This is not true. The fact that we go to church does not mean that we believe in all that they say in church. The problem is, we have no choice. We cannot tell them back as they preach. We go to church because we believe in God and not the priests. It is a personal choice we make, not dictated to by the priests.
I am still Catholic despite the political posturings of my Cardinal.
Lastly, have you noticed that many preachers have lost the way of salvation and are instead driven by earthly desires? They commit adultery with complete abandon; they aid separations of married couples by cheating with other people’s wives; they engage in all other sorts of materialism never seen before.
Just tune in to your TV every Sunday and you will see what I am talking about. These are not the people who are credible to mount a No Campaign. And on this we can bet. And they will come out the losers a third time round, and this will make the end of the church leadership in Kenya.
They speak for no God. But in the spirit of National Healing and Forgiveness, we should forgive them if they so repent and seek our forgiveness. Then, they should hold their peace and seek Christ. The true Christ.
How I wish Christ was able to manifest Himself once more to these people who claim to be his servants.
Odhiambo T Oketch
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— On Wed, 4/7/10, Elijah K wrote:
There is no harm why the politicians, CoE and Civil Society are not listening to what the Churches are saying. People intelligence cannot be argued from academic angles all the time. Using heavy words such as Judeo-Christianity, radicalism etc doesn’t help at all. The message from Christians is simple: abortion and Kadhi courts.
Will the draft constitution ensure we stamp out corruption, tribalism, equal distribution of resources, land issues etc. Then it means we may consider the Civil Society redundant after the passing of the constitution? Idiotic thinking. The fact is that Civil Society will be with us as long as we live, just like Churches and Mosques. Their expansion is unavoidable. And why we have the minority religion lie Budhists, Sikhs etc not raising their voice? They live in a society that doesn’t take care of them.
They have looked upon Kalonzo Musyoka who prays in Parliament to raise a voice on the issues. But the VP has kept quiet juts like what opportunistic politicians do. Rev Mutava Musyumi did not burn his career by bringing the amendment clause in Parliament. We are all ready for a new constitution for the sake. Just because we are tired of the current paper. Otherwise it reminds us of Moi and the colonialist. And so we need a new thing.
What if we replace the current leaders with new ones? Will the current constitution still be bad? I tend to think its politician who have demonised the current document, otherwise it needed few amendments to make it perfect.
Why is it so complicated to address these two issues? Honestly, none of the above affects my daily life as at now. I do not feel the impact and L don’t see it coming any sooner.
When Raila released the statement yesterday, he demonstrated that Christian in Kenya cannot trust him. It rekindled the memories of the MoU he entered into before some election years back. The fact is, you cannot continue to call Church leaders as ignorant, stupid and clumsy. You cannot use the last PEV and role of the church to accuse them of double standards. We cannot simply wish the Church away.
Just like what KEJUDE said, both sides MUST reach a compromise, and equal level ground. No Kenyan wants to stick to this old document that was drafted at the lawns of Lancaster. We need a new book but the book must have the content that serves the Kenyan people.
A reality check on religion in Kenya shows the following: Christian-Protestan t 45% including Anglican Church, Roman Catholic 33%, Islam 10%, Indigenous Religions 10%, Other 2% (CIA).
We all ought to remember that the sentiments we express here and on mass media should not be so academic that the ordinary man cannot understand. To them, anything their pastors says is law and binding. They will not listen to Cyprian and Omtatah exchanges. They don’t care what deal Raila has. Their pastor is the final say and that is why they pay SADAKA to go to church to listen to the word.
It will be interesting to keep posting divisive messages. Whether the Church leaders are stupid or not, they should be listened to and not ignored, abused etc.
Kombo Elijah