PRESS STATEMENT FROM BISHOP DR. WASHINGTON OGONYO NGEDE ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN KENYA.
June 20, 2008
Kenyans, and in particular leaders, must realize that Constitutional reforms are much crucial for the country than any other issue and it should therefore form the basis of every effort from all the political divide.
As much as every Kenyan has aright for opinion expression and association, such freedom would be meaningful and more helpful to Kenyans if the country got a good constitution through the needed reforms.
For democracy to fully thrive in a nation, a country must have a sound Constitution that protects everyone regardless of political, economic, religious or any other status he/she may have.
It is on that background that I, as the chairman of the Nyanza Council of Religious leaders do send passionate appeal to Kenyan political leaders to mind about the welfare of the country by fully focusing on the constitutional review with the urgent attention it deserves.
Those campaigning to have a grand opposition may not have bad intention but the timing is wrong. Kenyans did not expect such a move now especially after the signing of the National Accord by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on the agreement of among other things, the constitutional review within the stipulated time.
Kenyans would therefore see an attempt by a section of MPs calling for the grand opposition as ploy to derail the needed Constitutional reforms through dividing the country¢s attention on the matter.
I have just come in the country, June 18,2008 after one and half months stay in the United States of America (USA), a period that also coincided with the intense campaigns and subsequent nomination of the Democrats in the USA that saw Senator Barack Obama being their Presidential nominee. It was evidenced that all the party activities and general operations in the country are clearly guided by the Constitution.
Budalangi MP Pius Ababu Namwamba and his colleagues calling for the grand opposition in parliament will do this country a big service and leave strong legacy if they joined hands with other legislators in fighting for the Constitutional reforms instead.
As ODM mourns the demise of their members, late Ministers Kipkalya Kones and Lorna Laboso, all the party members should now evaluate themselves and work as a team for the interest of the country.
Unity of ODM party MPs will serve as honour of the departed souls whose determination was to see a just nation through the constitutional review. I, take this opportunity to send my deep condolences to the families of the departed leaders following the tragic plane accident that found me out of the country.
Constitutional review is the hallmark of all the myriad political and economic problems Kenyans and therefore must be the main focus now. God Bless Kenya.
Bishop Dr Washington Ogonyo Ngede
CHAIRMAN POWER OF JESUS AROUND THE WORLD CHURCH & NYANZA COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS.
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Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:34:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: “Bishop Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede”
Subject: PRESS STATEMENT