Kenyan Religious Leaders’ New Demands for Ruto-Raila Bipartisan Talks
Religious figures belonging to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the National Council of Churches of Kenya, and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims have put forth fresh requests that they wish to have deliberated during the cross-party discussions set for Monday, August 14th.
The leaders requested that the representatives of President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga incorporate topics such as national unity, cohesion, poverty, joblessness, and corruption on Friday, August 11th.
They contended that the five disputed matters were among the long-standing traditional elements that influenced the state of peace and calmness in Kenya.
When presenting their requirements, the religious leaders also advocated for bipartisan discussions to encompass specialists and impartial bodies like religious institutions, instead of solely concentrating on politicians and legal experts.
“This will assure an absence of political bickering during the talks, hence, giving the citizens a chance to build their lives as leaders work to restore peace in the country,” Bishop Martin Kivuva read the statement on behalf of the religious leaders.
1. National Unity
When urging the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja alliances to include the topic of national unity in the Bipartisan discussions, the religious leaders emphasized that although there have been certain improvements in national unity in recent times, there remains a substantial amount of work to be accomplished.
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They recognized that the 2010 Constitution, for instance, established a decentralized governmental system that grants increased authority to local areas. This shift has contributed to diminishing the sense of isolation felt by certain communities.
“National unity is essential for Kenya’s future. Without it, the country will be unable to achieve its full potential. It is important for all Kenyans to work together to build a more united and prosperous country,” the religious leaders observed.
2. Cohesion
The leaders stated that the absence of unity within the nation can be linked to various reasons, such as inequality, as there exists a considerable disparity among different communities and the wealthy and impoverished individuals in Kenya.
“Kenya has a history of political instability which has made it difficult to build trust and cooperation between different groups. This is why we are calling on the political leaders to discuss this matter,” the statement read in parts.
The officials also acknowledged the ongoing contribution of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC). However, they urged the political representatives to contemplate broader plans and projects aimed at fostering confidence and fostering mutual comprehension among diverse factions.
3. Poverty
Bishop Kivuva expressed worry about the level of poverty within the nation, highlighting the troubling fact that a significant portion of the Kenyan population continues to reside beneath the poverty threshold.
The religious authorities based their argument on the 2023 World Bank statistics, which indicated that approximately 16.1% of the population in Kenya is unable to generate about Ksh200 ($1.90) per day.
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This implies that more than 10 million individuals in Kenya are facing challenges in fulfilling their fundamental requirements, including nourishment, housing, attire, and medical care.
As per religious authorities, numerous elements contribute to the prevalence of poverty within the nation, encompassing elevated joblessness and inadequate remuneration.
“Even for those who are employed, wages are often very low. The average monthly wage in Kenya is around Ksh10,000. This is not enough to support a family on,” the leaders stated.
4. Unemployment
Regarding the matter of joblessness, religious leaders mentioned that according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the unemployment rate in Kenya was recorded at 5.5 percent in the year 2022.
“This represents a steady incline in the state of unemployment in the country, with the majority being young people who have or want to start families,” the religious leaders acknowledged.
They observed that in the nation, there’s a higher probability of women being without a job compared to men. As a result, they urged the political leaders to tackle the underlying causes like bias, limited educational and training opportunities, and excessive family obligations.
5. War on Graft
In connection to former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s statement about Kenya’s daily loss of around Ksh2 billion, religious leaders noted that corruption represents a nationwide emergency demanding attention during the Bipartisan discussions.
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They felt a sense of sorrow over the fact that funds that could have been utilized to enhance education, healthcare, and infrastructure were misappropriated by influential figures within the community, including some holding governmental positions.
The religious authorities called for the creation of robust organizations capable of effectively addressing corruption.
“There is a lack of transparency in the country which makes it difficult to track how public money is being spent. The weak rule of law makes it difficult to enforce laws against graft,” the leaders observed.
Kenyan Religious Leaders’ New Demands for Ruto-Raila Bipartisan Talks
