CISA NEWS REPORT:
NAIROBI, May 15, 2012 (CISA) -Catholic Bishop, The Right Rev Alfred Rotich has urged Kenyans to pray and work towards a peaceful General Elections, scheduled for early next year.
“From now until Elections’ time, we as Christians and Kenyans need to pray and collaborate. We are expected to commit ourselves to peace-making with our neighbours and offering prayers for peaceful elections,” said Bishop Rotich of the Diocese of Military Ordinariate and outgoing Chairman of the Bishops’ Commission for Social Communications.
He was speaking at the Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations, Nairobi on May 11 during the launch of a film called “The Rally”, a joint production of Jesuit Hakimani Centre and Artful Eyes Productions and directed by Jesuit priest, Rev Dr Elias Mokua.
The film aims to show how and why political campaigns are essential for candidates to elective posts, which Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia, Chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Kenya described as handy before the General Elections.
Bishop Rotich said many evils could happen in the forthcoming General Election as has been the case in the past “unless we keep peace to each other and offer prayers on the issue.”
Dr Kibunjia told the congregation, which included the clergy, religious men and women that peaceful elections were possible.
“But this will not depend on the beautiful Constitution we have or the Commission nor our politicians but on the 40 million Kenyans on their concrete decision to keep peace during the Elections,” he said.
He said that every time Kenyans hold elections, they always seem to have an agenda, for example the removal of Session 2A, leading to multi-party democracy and the removal of KANU government from the power.
“This time around, the agenda should be peaceful elections,” he added.
“Our people must work hard for peace and good neighborhood to avert the country going back to the old bad days of violence during elections period,” emphasized Dr Kibunjia, while urging the Church to avail civic education to the faithful.
Ms Winfred Lichuma, Chairperson of National Gender and Equality Commission urged women to ensure they went for elective posts during the forthcoming General Elections.
“The said two thirds positions set aside for women as per our new Constitutions are confined to the Counties, while other positions, like for Members of Parliament, will be out for grabs by both men and women,” she said.
“From now until Elections’ time, we as Christians and Kenyans need to pray and collaborate. We are expected to commit ourselves to peace-making with our neighbours and offering prayers for peaceful elections,” said Bishop Rotich of the Diocese of Military Ordinariate and outgoing Chairman of the Bishops’ Commission for Social Communications.
He was speaking at the Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations, Nairobi on May 11 during the launch of a film called “The Rally”, a joint production of Jesuit Hakimani Centre and Artful Eyes Productions and directed by Jesuit priest, Rev Dr Elias Mokua.
The film aims to show how and why political campaigns are essential for candidates to elective posts, which Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia, Chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Kenya described as handy before the General Elections.
Bishop Rotich said many evils could happen in the forthcoming General Election as has been the case in the past “unless we keep peace to each other and offer prayers on the issue.”
Dr Kibunjia told the congregation, which included the clergy, religious men and women that peaceful elections were possible.
“But this will not depend on the beautiful Constitution we have or the Commission nor our politicians but on the 40 million Kenyans on their concrete decision to keep peace during the Elections,” he said.
He said that every time Kenyans hold elections, they always seem to have an agenda, for example the removal of Session 2A, leading to multi-party democracy and the removal of KANU government from the power.
“This time around, the agenda should be peaceful elections,” he added.
“Our people must work hard for peace and good neighborhood to avert the country going back to the old bad days of violence during elections period,” emphasized Dr Kibunjia, while urging the Church to avail civic education to the faithful.
Ms Winfred Lichuma, Chairperson of National Gender and Equality Commission urged women to ensure they went for elective posts during the forthcoming General Elections.
“The said two thirds positions set aside for women as per our new Constitutions are confined to the Counties, while other positions, like for Members of Parliament, will be out for grabs by both men and women,” she said.
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