Arise, Shape Your Future Destiny – Pastoral Letter
December 3, 2024
Arise, Shape Your Future Destiny
Pastoral Letter to the People of Kenya
Deuteronomy 28: 11
The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity – in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground – in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.
The Executive Committee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) is holding a two-day statutory meeting here at Jumuia Conference and Country Home, Limuru.
- State of the Nation
The Executive Committee has taken stock of the state of the nation, and is saddened to note that the country is not in a good condition, akin to a patient who is in Intensive Care Unit. Overall, we find that
One, the economy is on a free-fall, with the purchasing power of citizens dwindling every day, leading to the collapse of businesses, rise in unemployment and increase in poverty.
Two, the respect for human rights and respect for rule of law has deteriorated to the point where Kenyans, especially leaders and human rights defenders, are living in fear of abduction and forced disappearances.
Three, lies and falsehood have been elevated to the point where no one knows what to believe any more.
Four, the constitutional and legal framework of the nation, which is the glue that binds us together, is under attack with attempts to introduce anti-people changes and provisions.
Having considered this state of affairs, we now write this Pastoral Letter to the people of Kenya.
2. Know the Truth About Your Nation
The Bible warns against listening to lies, as we read in Ezekiel 13: 19
You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not live.
The situation in our country is the direct result of our tendency, as the people of Kenya, to listen to and believe the narratives peddled by persons seeking to rise to or to hold onto political leadership. These narratives are often premised on lies and falsehoods. We appeal to you, Brothers and Sisters, to be seekers of truth. Do not just believe what is said, but take a step to verify if what you have been told is true.
3. Demand for Reconstitution of the IEBC
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is the most crucial organ in the exercise of democracy in Kenya, for it is the body mandated to facilitate election and removal of leaders. The persistent refusal by the current political leadership to reconstitute the IEBC is a major insult to the people of Kenya and an attack on who we are as a nation.
We encourage you, as the citizens of Kenya, not to give your elected leaders and their appointees peace until they heed to the demand for urgent recruitment of IEBC Commissioners as provided for in the Constitution. We urge you to raise your voices to demand that the Judiciary concludes the cases touching on the IEBC reconstitution within the next two weeks. We must get back our democracy.
4. Recall Non Performing Leaders
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we are in the sad situation where the Members of Parliament have betrayed the electorate who voted them into office. Instead of representing the people, they have become spanner boys carrying out the work of the Executive. Instead of oversighting the Executive, they are cheerleaders in oppressing the people. Instead of speaking for the people, they are making oppressive laws. This state is unsustainable.
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 in Article 104 (1) provides that
The electorate under Articles 97 and 98 have the right to recall the member of Parliament representing their constituency before the end of the term of the relevant House of Parliament.
We encourage you as voters to collect signatures and commence the processes of recalling the Members of Parliament who are not performing as per your requirements and demands. As the electorate, you are the employer, not a servant, of the Members of Parliament and other elected leaders, and the right of recall is the disciplinary measure availed to us by the Constitution.
5. Demand for Better Healthcare
Dear Brothers and Sisters, it is God’s will that you have a healthy life, as we read in Deuteronomy 7: 15 – The Lord will keep you free from every disease. It is therefore a very major concern for us that the healthcare in the country has been thrust into confusion leading to suffering and deaths across the country. As Citizens, do not remain silent. Take every opportunity you have to demand that the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) is suspended until all the necessary structures are put in place. The healthcare of Kenyans must not be sacrificed just so that a few people can steal public funds. Further, we need to hold our Members of Parliament to account for hurriedly passing the bills in Parliament which instituted the SHIF while knowing full well that it was going to cause suffering in the nation.
6. Reject, Name and Shame the Corrupt
Corruption is the biggest threat to national security and most destructive pandemic afflicting Kenya. It is very unfortunate that every arm of the government, Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, and even the independent commissions, have been associated with corruption. This is the state God complains about in Micah 3: 11
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money.
It is our conviction that only we as the people of Kenya can stop corruption. Let us end the culture of celebrating the corrupt and start ashaming them instead. Let us build a culture of supporting and electing persons who manifest integrity.
Towards this, we encourage all of us as Kenyans to reject contributions by political leaders and their appointees knowing that most of the money given is stolen taxes. We must stop celebrating whenever the President, Members of Parliament, Governors, Members of County Assemblies and other political actors donate money whose sources are not clear.
On our part as the church, we make it clear that all persons are free to attend worship services and give their offerings, but we will not allow this sacred religious practice to be used for self-promotion and self-marketing. We will continue propagating and applying the guidelines issued by the NCCK which requires that politicians should not be allowed to address congregations inside the church.
7. Demand for People-Focused Reforms
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we take note that in the recent past, multiple laws have been presented in Parliament which if enacted will radically change the electoral framework and will effectively destroy democracy. In addition to these, there are 9 different agriculture related Bills which will criminalize food production in our nation. We are convinced that the reason political leaders have not undertaken civic education on these laws, none of which are sponsored by Kenyans in any of our constituencies, is because they know Kenyans will not support them.
We encourage you to demand from your Members of Parliament that these laws are withdrawn. Do not allow Parliament to enact laws that will make your very life illegitimate.
We also urge you to strongly reject the proposed vaccination of animals being driven by international bodies. Make it clear to your Members of Parliament and Members of County Assemblies that we do not want Kenya to be a surrogate of international bodies. Especially make it clear that as Kenyans we have rejected Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
8. Let Us End Violence and Discrimination
Dear Brothers and Sisters, we appeal to you that we join hands in ending the rising cases of gender-based violence that is rising in our communities. Let us all endeavor to find peaceful ways of resolving conflicts and disagreements that include dialogue, mediation and counseling.
Further, we urge you to do what is within your power to end the discrimination against Persons with Disabilities.
9. Conclusion
In conclusion, dear Brothers and Sisters, we appeal to you to arise and shape the destiny of our nation. We cannot leave this role to the political leaders, who have betrayed us. As the people we must unite, knowing that the unity of the citizenry is what will make our nation better, being inspired by the scripture recorded in 1 Corinthians 1: 10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
And also in our National Anthem.
Let all with one accord, In common bond united, Build this our nation together
And the glory of Kenya, The fruit of our labour, Fill every heart with thanksgiving
We take this moment to wish all Kenyans a blessed and Christ-centered Christmas, and God-filled New Year 2025.
Signed on this 3rd day of December 2024 at Jumuia Conference and Country Home, Limuru
Rev Dr Elias Otieno Agola
Chairman
Rev Canon Chris Kinyanjui
General Secretary
