National Mirror
Called to Witness
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Date: Wed, Apr 07, 2010
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Papers, Publications & Reports
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LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR
Author(s): Catholic Bishops
Language: English
Abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Our dear Catholics and all people of good will, we are approaching the important moment of general Elections inn our country. We will be called to elect leaders at all levels: Councillors, Members of Parliament and the President. The time for decision is now. The future of our country is at stake.
Kenya is a democracy. We the people of Kenya are going to decide on our fate through this democratic process. We the Bishops, as your shepherds wish to give you specific guidelines regarding the electoral process. In this first place, all registered voters have the right and the obligation to vote. Not to vote will only leave more space for wrong leaders to be elected. We therefore, urge everyone who is eligible to vote to do so.
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2. KENYA AS A UNIFIED NATION
May They All Be One (John 17:21). These words of Jesus Christ inspire us because they are valid for us, and for all time. He commanded that we love one another. It is the will of God that we appreciate our diversity and promote unity in our country. Genuine love of our neighbour is the true foundation of a united nation. We must therefore reject any leader who preaches hatred or who indulges in divisive politics.
We must be truly proud to be Kenyan. Genuine patriotism is when all can say sincerely: My country is Kenya; I am a Kenyan. This is the ideal that we as the wananchi must desire and work for; that we must teach our children and that our leaders must promote. Our National Anthem consigns this rich message, when we sing. Let all with one accord in common bond united. Build this our nation together, and the glory of Kenya, the fruits of our labour. Fill every heart with thanksgiving. Indeed, the whole national anthem is a great prayer, which needs to be said in all institutions of learning, places of work, in parliament, gathering and functions.
3. CORRUPTION
One of the main factors that hinder our progress is Corruption. In Kenya today it seems that in some cases it is not who you are that matters but whom you know. There have been many complaints that when looking for employment it is not how qualified you are but whom you know and the ethnic group to which you belong.
One main roads are being destroyed by over loaded trucks, who break the law. Why? Some people think they are above the law and break it with impunity. Why? We strongly condemn the practice of buying the Youth to engage in poll violence. This is indeed a form of corruption. We must demand from the political and civic leaders that they be above reproach in matters of corruption. Only honest, upright and credible leaders should be elected. We need value driven leaders.
4. PATRIOTISM
We need to promote patriotism in Kenya. Our Country is loosing many of its sons and daughters to other countries in search of greener pastures. Those so called brain drain is damaging our progress as a nation. We expect our soon-to-be elected leaders to create a climate in Kenya where this misfortune will stop.
5. QUALITIES OF CANDIDTES FOR ELECTIONS
We are calling on all Kenyans to inform themselves adequately on those seeking election. It is not enough to know the candidates qualities vaguely. We must establish their stand on relevant issues and know their track record on honesty and uprightness.
There is no shortage of candidates for the many elected posts in our country . From our perspective, wananchi must be careful to elect honest and trustworthy candidates. I f a corrupt person is elected , the long cycle of deprivation and abuse of office will prolonged and moral fibre of our nation will continue to be eroded.
Our dear Kenyans, we would like to outline some of these qualities that we should look for as we exercise our democratic right. All of us citizens expect the following values or principled to be incorporated into the vision of our leaders.
1. Religious freedom for all people living in Kenya be upheld and respected.
2. The dignity of each and every human person be enhanced and protected
3. Everybody should respect the basic right to life from the moment of conception to natural death. This means no abortions, no Euthanasia and no capital punishment. The fifth commandment of God instructs.you shall not kill(Ex.20:13)
4. Elected leaders shall recognize the centrality of the family in society and defend it.
5. Elected leaders shall promote the common good where all people participate and benefit from the goods available. Selfishness and greed must stop.
6. Leaders must protect the interest of the weak, and the poor and the marginalized in society wherever they found.
7. Leaders must support measures which guarantee security for all in whichever place or situation in which people find themselves. The rule of law and order must be up held.
8. Idleness is causing a lot of problems for our country. So leaders must promote the right to work, the right of workers and employees. Kenya must be working nation if it has to achieve its goals.
9. Our political leaders must work towards providing, access to water regular food, good roads, quality education and health care.
10. Leaders must ensure that measures are taken to protect the environment.
11. Elected leaders must foster the culture of living together in peace, justice for all, dialogue, political tolerance and living according to the rule of law and order. The leaders should not divide wananchi along tribal lines but work-together as unified nation, for prosperity.
12. Any candidate promoting violence or inciting people to violence or promoting hatred should not be elected.
13. Kenyans need elected leaders who will handle the perennial problem of land affecting the nation. Some individual people own massive lands and others are born and live in the gutters and streets of our cities and in the mountains. Many others are perpetual squatters and thus are reduced to sub-human living. We urge displaced persons should be resettled.
14. Leaders must ensure more equitable distribution of natural and national resources of Kenya to help build one nation
6. THE MASS MEDIA
We ask that the mass media play a positive , constructive and truthful role in our society. It should educate the people on rights and obligations during the forthcoming elections and afterwards.
On the other hand , everybody especially those aspiring to lead, must use the mass media responsibly and not in a manipulative way. We emphasize that mass media should broadcast the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
7. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Teachers and other civil servants have to resign to vie for elections. This has great consequences for the individual. We recommend that if a practising Lawyer is elected into parliament, he or she should abandon private practice. There should be one law for all. One should not be a member of parliament and at the same time benefit from handling matters of the public they serve in private practice.
8. POST ELECTION
We ask al those that wananchi have not elected to accept the results and cooperate fully with those who have been elected. Let the election increase the bonds of unity in our nation
9. NECESSITY OF CIVIC EDUCATION
In order to vote correctly people must have an informed mind and conscience. They must know the relevant issues and the qualities of candidates as outlined above. Civic education is therefore a necessity. >From past experience, we know that the quality of civic education has not formed people enough. We have witnessed the organising of groups to incite violence as well as buying of votes or voting cards. Too often, the civic education sessions have been turned out into political rallies. This time round we are appealing to all concerned to give space for proper civic education. This is part of the level playing field that is often forgotten or not even mentioned.
The people must not be impoverished or to denied their basic rights by the use of money or kind, to influence their voting pattern: such practices dehumanize people and make them unduly dependant on the purported bread-providers. The role of civic education is to educate not to manipulate. And therefore, like in the past, the Catholic Church will be fully involved in civic education through its catholic justice and peace commission.
10 CONCLUSION
We appeal to all Catholics and people of goodwill. To employ dialogue at this sensitive time for the better of everyone. The relationships that are established in a climate of dialogue overcome ethnic divisions and ideological differences. Dialogue prompts people to seek out what unites rather that what divides them.
Finally, our strong message is an appeal to all to endeavour to build the civilisation of love. It is only love for God and for one another that can transform the human person and the entire Kenyan society
Right will dwell in the desert,
And justices abide in the orchard.
Justice will bring about peace;
Right will produce calm and security.
My people will live in a peaceful country,
In secure dwellings and quiet resting places (Isaiah 32:16-19)
God bless you all, God bless Kenya
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