Justice Be Our Shield and Defender
Pastoral Letter
O God of all creation, bless this our land and nation, Justice be our Sheild and Defender
May we dwell in unity, peace and liberty, plenty be found within our borders
Brothers and Sisters,
In the prayer we all make through the National Anthem, we constantly plead with God to help us make Justice the core foundation and bastion for our nation. It is this understanding that forms the background against which the Executive Committee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya has held a two-day statutory meeting at Jumuia Conference and Country Home, Limuru.
After a session of intensive reflection and soul searching, we share this message.
1. A Devastated Nation
Kenyans are a devastated people. In every assessment the NCCK has done in the nine regions and here at the national level:
- More than 80% of the people say the nation is heading in the wrong direction
- More than 79% of the people indicate that their general mood is either depressed or unhappy
- About 77% indicated that they are poorer today than they were one year ago
- More than 60% would not re-elect any of the current political leaders from the Member of County Assembly to the President
This state of despair and frustration, which is driven by injustice, is not sustainable. If the people of Kenya do not arise and rescue the nation, even the constitutional and legal bonds that bind the nation together shall fall apart. Let us be spurred into action by the instructions God has given us in Deuteronomy 18: 20
Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.
2. Untenable Cost of Living
The cost of living in Kenya is too high, and the impact is devastating. The exit of multiple companies from the country due to a toxic business environment has led to massive unemployment, which has led to a radical drop in the purchasing power of citizens, which has led to collapse of small and micro businesses. The result is perpetually increasing poverty, with the telltale characteristics of children dropping out of school, instability in families, depression, gender based violence, and increase in crime as people steal to make ends meet. It is a sad reality that the government keeps releasing reports that imply economic growth while people are suffering.
We warn that the anger and despondency among Kenyans is a timebomb waiting for the slightest spark to explode.
3. Betrayal by Parliament
In Chapter Eight of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, citizens specifically spelt out the role of Parliament to be:
One, make laws
Two, represent the People
Three, oversight the government
The greatest sorrow in Kenya is that Members of Parliament have wholesomely failed the people of Kenya, lost legitimacy, and have become perpetrators of injustice. By passing unjust laws, Members of the National Assembly and Senate have forgotten the warning God gave in Isaiah 10: 1 – 3
Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar?
Dear Brothers and Sisters, When we elect leaders, let us choose men and women of integrity, not those who offer us bribes.
4. Protect Democracy
The Constitution defines Kenya as a multiparty democracy in which we use elections to identify persons to hold political leadership positions. It is therefore a great injustice that there are relentless efforts to erode, and even kill, democracy in our nation. Last week, Kenyans witnessed extensive voter bribery, use of state organs and institutions in the campaigns, mobilization of violence across the nation, breach of the Constitution as state officers openly participated in campaigns, and outright declaration by government-associated individuals that they will rig elections. The failure by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Police and other state organs to punish the offenders has given indications of intent to water down democracy. What hope do Kenyans have that the 2027 General Elections will be any different?
5. Youth Arise, It is Your Time
In human history, every generation faces a challenge that they have to overcome for their society to progress. It is in this context that the young people of Kenya in June 2024 successfully diagnosed the problem facing our nation and offered a viable solution. The youth must realize that the older population, who constitute less than 30% of the population, will not create for you the Kenya you want to live in. You must do it for yourselves.
The church will continue to embrace you, to cherish you, and to mentor you on this journey.
In the meantime, we appeal to all the young people to register as voters and to actively engage in political parties, community, churches and other platforms as responsible citizens.
6. Heal the Health Sector
We are deeply sorrowed that Kenyans are back to the days of holding fundraisings every day to cover medical costs despite being forced to enroll on the Social Health Insurance Fund. Reports from across the county indicate that officials in the Social Health Authority (SHA) are demanding bribes for them to release remittances that are owed to health facilities. This is a further injustice to the fact that many patients are being denied medical care. In addition, Kenyans are still perplexed by the opaque nature in which the SHA is managing the public health insurance.
Unless the SHA delivers the promise of health financing, Kenyans shall call for its disbandment.
7. Redeem Education
The past year has been one of the worst for the education sector in Kenya. Capitation funds have not been released to schools, and when the release is done, the funds are seriously reduced. Tertiary education has suffered a similar fate, with lecturers being forced to strike for months on end. On their part, students in universities have been denied access to education on account of a funding model that is unjust. Why is the government determined to undermine education?
8. Protect the Pulpit
The Executive Committee commends all our member churches who embraced and have kept the guidelines we agreed upon on how to minister to politicians. We reiterate these guidelines and appeal to all churches and other faith institutions to embrace them. On their part, we encourage congregants to support their clergy to adhere to these guidelines, in which we agreed:
One, all politicians who attend worship services will be treated the same as all other worshippers
Two, all contributions will be treated as regular offerings and will not be announced or given with ceremony. Indeed we advice our clergy to avoid inviting politicians to fundraisings in the churches.
Three, no politician will be allowed to speak to the congregants inside the church, and will instead be advised to address people outside the church building after the service
Four, church leaders will not endorse or oppose any political leader or party.
Conclusion
We conclude by reminding us all that justice is a foundational element of the faith we have in God, in line with the message of God recorded in Micah 6: 8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Always remember that injustice to osne Kenyan is injustice to all Kenyans.
We wish you all a Jesus-centered and Merry Christmas, and a blessed Happy New Year 2026.
Signed on this 4th day of December 2025 at Jumuia Conference and Country Home, Limuru.
Rev Dr Elias Otieno Agola
Chairman
Rev Canon Chris Kinyanjui
General Secretary
