Kenya: We failed the flock, church leaders say

Speakers at a four-day conference also attended by retired President Daniel arap Moi on Saturday and Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende gave testimonies about their activities during the crisis, including blessing warriors to engage in violence.

Others admitted having invited politicians to their churches where they used the pulpit to disseminate hate messages that incited people against members of various communities.

The over 1,300 Christian leaders meeting at Kabarak University, vowed not to fail the country again.

The participants agreed that the Church has not lived up to its calling since the 2005 national referendum on the proposed new constitution.

In a press statement, carried elsewhere in this newspaper, the clergymen said: “We own up to taking partisan positions on national issues, elevating our ethnic identities above our Christian identity, direct involvement in party politics and participating in post-election violence which were made more ominous by the deteriorating national values, sinful political strategies and failure to faithfully stand for biblical values and principles.”

“We ask God to forgive us and to renew and empower our witness to His grace.”

National Council of Churches of Kenya Secretary General Peter Karanja said the church body was in a process of rebuilding its image and restoring confidence amongst the faithful as the country embarks on the road to national reconciliation.

While asking why they gave politicians platforms to incite people, Mr Moi urged the leaders to avoid divisive politics and instead support the government in resettling the internal refugees. He asked the Church to support the government and other humanitarian agencies in ensuring peace in the country.

Mr Marende said truth must be told and people asked to forgive each other for violence not to re-cur. The country must also establish strong institutions to help it forge forward united, he said.

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API/Source.Daily Nation (Kenya), by Wanjiru Macharia