The National Council of Churches of Kenya General Secretary Reverend Canon Peter Karanja, today held discussions with a group of Christian religious leaders from the Coastal region. During the meeting, the leaders discussed among other things, radicalization of the youth and how to bridge ethnic and religious divisions in the region.
Addressing the meeting, Canon Karanja expressed concern that traditional narratives were being re-ignited with the common man bearing the brunt. He pointed out that there was great frustration due to uncoordinated response to various issues facing the region. “Religious leaders have got a contribution to make away from what politicians do. NCCK is committed to nurture this debate. With traditional narratives being re-ignited the common man does not know where to go or what to do,” said Canon Karanja.
He added that dialogue to resolve various issues among various ethnic communities in the country remained NCCK’s mantra. “NCCK holds the view that we must dialogue. Even with 1000 amendments of the constitution we shall continue to kill one another if we have not decided how we want to live with each other,” he observed.
On their part the leaders said that the church must agree on how to approach the challenges facing the region. They took issue with persistent attacks on innocent lives fueled by the land question in Coastal region.
Present during the meeting were NCCK Deputy General Secretary Mr. Oliver Kisaka, the Council’s Coast regional chair Bsp. Lawrence Dena, Bsp. Rophus Mzungu, Rev. Jane Kilani among others.
The meeting was aimed at preparing ground for the intra and inter ethnic dialogue forum in the region under phase II of the Pamoja Initiative which is expected to be launched soon.
This year alone, over 100 people have died in various parts of the Coastal region due to ethnic violence attributed to the land question with the situation being compounded by radicalization of various youth in the region.
