Three Catholic bishops have urged political aspirants vying for the August 9 polls and Kenyans in general to uphold peace during the campaign period.
Speaking yesterday during the Episcopal Consecration and Installation of Garissa Bishop elect Monsignor George Muthaka held at the Garissa cathedral church, Bishops Martyin Kivuva (Mombasa) Philip Anyolo (Nairobi) together with Bishop Muthaka said that the aspirants should put the interest of the country first.
Bishop Kivuva said that Kenya could only thrive if the citizens would choose to maintain peace during the campaign period.
The bishop also urged Kenyans to elect visionary leaders that would work towards economic recovery of the country, unite Kenyans, respect the country’s values and philosophy.
“We shall be going to the polls in the next three months. My sincere appeal to my fellow Kenyans is to rise above tribal and party politics and choose leaders based on their capabilities and manifestos,” Kivuva said.
“We would like to have leaders who will first and foremost unite the country because at the end of the campaigns we are Kenyans and have a country to protect after elections,” he added.
He said the church would continue remaining steadfast in pointing out the ills happening in the society as they also advise Kenyans to make wise and informed decisions.
“The church continues to be conscience of our society. We are at the center of helping our people through education. That is a role we will continue playing as church leaders and we urge fellow Kenyans politicians included to continue respecting religious institutions at all times,” he noted.
Bishop Anyolo on his part urged the political class to remain sober when selling their manifestos and avoid making utterances that might trigger violence in the country.
“We can see there is mobilization by politicians, but the church as it has done before is to educate the people to understand the qualities to look into when electing leaders,” Anyolo said.
“As a church we would like to see leaders who will guide us into economic recovery, make us a nation, brother and sisters after the August 9 polls. It’s not just because we are Kenyans but even as we profess difference faiths, we remain Kenyans first,” he said.
Bishop Muthaka while thanking the church for bestowing him the responsibility of steering the agenda of church promised to do his best to unite the entire congregation together with that of other faiths.
Muthaka emphasized on the need for leaders to sanitize their speakers during political gatherings and avoid issuing utterances that incite and polarize the country.
He said that Kenyans were well informed and knew the kind of leaders they wanted hence there was no need for the politicians to incite them or whip their emotions to get votes.
Bishop Muthaka was born on December 28, 1974 in Ruiru, Kiambu County. He went to St. George’s primary school from 1981 to 1988 and Queen of Apostles Minor Seminary, Nairobi from 1989 to 1992.
Muthaka was ordained a deacon in December, 2002 and a priest in June, 2003.
He served as the Vice Provincial Minister of the General Vice province of Kenya for a three-year term from 2009.
