Anglican Bishops caution political leaders on State of the Nation

Nairobi, Wednesday, May 10, 2023

KNA by Ali Sheikh Mohamed/Lucy Gitei

Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) bishops have noted with concern the worrying unresolved political tussle and governance impasse fomenting in Kenya since the beginning of 2023.

ACK Archbishop Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit said despite the judicial process and swearing in of the President, the Azimio -One Kenya Alliance continues to demand that the servers be opened to determine who won the presidential election

Ole Sapit stated that Azimio has resorted to holding protests and picketing which has caused business losses especially in the Central Business District in Nairobi in an effort to compel the government to address the demand to have the servers opened, to reconstitute the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners and that IEBC be devolved.

The ACK prelate lamented that the unemployed youth have been manipulated to settle political scores threatening social conflict and security.

“The increasing number of unemployed youth and rising cost of living have been weaved into an appealing narrative to attract and win the support of the vulnerable population spurring to participate in the protests ,” Sapit revealed.

He added that the sharp division between the two political divisions is not good for Kenya, adding it is not only battering the economy but also threatening social conflict and breakdown of law and order.

Ole Sapit called upon the political leaders to stop the stand-off and engage in healthy political conversation to resolve their differences.

The Archbishop made these remarks during a press briefing at the All Saints Cathedral Church when he disclosed that the government is doing nothing to reign in wasteful government expenditure or improve deteriorating levels of public services in all sectors.

He said that with the high rise in unemployment and poverty levels, Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet, businesses are struggling, families are breaking down and prevailing economic hardships contributing to high cases of mental illnesses, depression and loss of lives.

Further, Ole Sapit demanded the proposed Finance Bill 2023 be subject to public scrutiny before it is presented to Parliament. The Prelate suggested that the government should adopt a clear structure that will curb wasteful public expenditure and be sensitive to the distressful debt situation and the worsening dire economic hardships that citizens are facing.

The Archbishop also cautioned that the proposed Finance Bill model must ensure that the new changes don’t open new avenues for corruption, nepotism and marginalization while some may benefit from public coffers at the expense of others. Hence it must be clear, impartial and unbiased.  

            In education, Archbishop Sapit noted the challenges children are facing in implementing Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) citing significant need for improvement especially in training and preparation of teachers who work in junior secondary schools

“The government must urgently prioritize resourcing of teacher training and increase support for junior secondary school teachers,” Ole Sapit urged, noting this as a foundational formative year of the child’s learning that cannot be experimented with the life of the children.

While encouraging communities to enroll in National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to enable them access health services whenever they require them, Ole Sapit also raised concerns on inadequate financing of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for everyone highlighting the situation of faith based health facilities which are facing a cash flow crisis due to unpaid claims by NHIF worth Sh2 billion.

He asked the government to ensure that the premiums being demanded are accessible to ordinary Kenyans and the funds collected are efficiently and transparently applied.

Additionally, on issues pertaining to the environment and climate change, Ole Sapit assured that they will take part in environmental conservation and encouraged the government to take urgent action to address environmental degradation.

“We, the Anglican Church through our Green Anglican Movement (GAM) are committed to preservation and care of God’s creation and will grow 15 million trees by 2026 when we celebrate wholesome ecology for a wholesome nation,” he pledged.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop commended the intention by the government to eradicate insecurity in insecurity prone areas such as Baringo, Samburu and Marsabit but insisted the operation be done with a human face and with utmost care not to violate human dignity and rights of Kenyans.

On faith matters, Ole Sapit stated that the Anglican Church recognizes the current statutes are inadequate to deal with religious extremists and cultic bodies that operate under the guise of religious organizations.

He said the church will consider and support a governing law that will stem the proliferation of cultic practices but must protect and promote religious freedoms for all the citizens.

“We condole with the families who lost their loved ones in Shakahola and caution the public to be alert and report any suspicious religious practices,” Ole Sapit said.

Courtesy; K.N.A