Let Us All Champion Justice
Press Statement
Preamble
The NCCK Lower Eastern region has held a two-day consultation forum at St Joseph Pastoral Center, Machakos, bringing together representatives from Kajiado, Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties. The delegates were inspired by the scripture recorded in 2 Corinthians 5: 20
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Appreciating this principal role bestowed on us, we took to heart the words of our Lord Jesus Christ recorded in Matthew 23: 23
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices – mint, dill and cummin. But you neglect the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Being challenged to practice and promote justice, mercy and faithfulness, we now share the following message.
1. State of the Lives of the People
Based on surveys undertaken in the Lower Eastern Region, we have found that the state of the lives of the people is not good. Some of the pointers of this status are:
a) 82% indicate their general mood is unhappy and depressed, and only 3% say they are happy about life
b) 74% indicate they are poorer today compared to last year, while 26% say their situation is same as last year
c) 90% indicate that cost of living is their highest priority
d) High level of taxation under which the government takes just over 56% of an individual’s income through direct and indirect taxes
2. Manifestations of the State of the People
This forum observed that the state of the lives of the people has been characterized by different manifestations, which include:
a) Rising cost of living and higher taxation
b) Closure of industries leading to unemployment and layoffs
c) Closure of businesses due to lack of cash flow
d) Increased poverty
e) Rapid increase in drug abuse and alcoholism which is destroying individuals and families
f) School dropouts and education challenges
g) Early pregnancies
h) Increase in theft and general insecurity
We in this forum noted that if this situation remains unresolved, the result will be increased corruption, more demonstrations due to public frustrations, political and elections related violence, and family and social breakdown.
3. Misdeeds by Politicians
On their part, political leaders are being accused of persistently engaging in
a) Ethnic incitement and hate speech, which is creating suspicions and tensions between different communities
b) Politicisation of land issues, which is triggering violence and forced evictions
c) Spreading of disinformation and misinformation, which trigger attacks on people and businesses
d) Creating and sponsoring militias, commonly referred to as goons, who then spread violence on citizens
e) Bribery of voters and buying out of candidates, which is destroying the tenets of democracy on which our nation is founded
f) Massive corruption, which is impoverishing and killing the nation
As a result, the residents in our counties have lost confidence in the political leadership, blaming them for poor performance. So serious is this sentiment that if elections were held today, 70% would not re-elect their Member of County Assembly, Member of National Assembly, Women Representative, Senator, Governor or the President.
We call upon all political leaders to take to heart the warning God has given 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? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
4. Message to the People
To all our brothers and sisters in Kenya, we appeal to you to carefully consider the warning God has given in Galatians 6: 7
Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
We must realize that we will always face the consequences of the decisions we make as a people. We must be very careful who we elect as leaders, for the nation will always reflect the character of the leaders. To redeem the nation and transform the state of the lives of the people, we strongly recommend the following measures:
a) Refuse to be incited against other tribes and do not allow yourselves to engage in violence against any other person
b) Refuse to be bribed to vote for any candidate. Indeed, determine to vote against any candidate who dishes out money, knowing that they will later on steal public funds.
c) Arise and say no to laws and policies that are oppressive and those that cause an increase in poverty
d) Demand for accountability and good performance from all political leaders as well as heads of the constitutional commissions
5. Message to the Youth
To all the young people of Kenya, we encourage you to embolden your aspiration for a better Kenya, recognizing the promise God has given in Joel 2: 28
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
We appreciate your perception that inspired the demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024 and Finance Bill 2025, and urge you to dream of how Kenya will be in the next 50 years. Towards this, we encourage you to:
a) Register with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and prepare to participate in elections as voters and candidates. This nation needs your leadership, and you can only get there through elections.
b) Refuse to be used by politicians to engage in violence and hooliganism. The money the politician is giving you will not last, but the effects of their corruption will keep you poor forever. Just say No.
c) Seek opportunities for skilling and mentorship to enable you have sources of income even without salaried employment
d) Form empowerment groups, which we call Chamas, with fellow youths so that you encourage each other to overcome alcohol and substance abuse
6. Message to the Church
We appeal to our fellow clergy to remember that our primary mandate is to be ambassadors of Christ here on earth. For this reason, we must protect the pulpit from being used as a platform for politics and campaigns. Let us constantly apply the guidelines that were issued by the NCCK Executive Committee on ministering to politicians, which indicate that:
a) All politicians who attend worship services are to be treated the same as all other worshippers
b) All monetary and material contributions should be treated as offerings and should not be announced or given with ceremony
c) Politicians should not be allowed to address the congregants inside the church but can instead speak to people outside the church building after the service
d) Church leaders must remain objective and non-partisan and must avoid endorsing or opposing any political party or leader
7. Protect Health of All
Beyond the socio-economic state of the lives of the people, we recognize that Non Communicable Diseases are a major threat to the health and wellbeing of Kenyans. These conditions, which include diabetes, hypertension, stroke, cancer, heart ailments and cardiovascular diseases, currently account for 55% of hospitalizations and 39% of deaths. They also consume 77% of total health expenditure of households. As a nation, we must take steps to address these conditions, towards which we recommend the following:
a) Non Communicable Diseases should be declared a national emergency so that adequate attention and resources are allocated to the sector
b) The government should speedily introduce regulations and laws to ensure producers include Front of Pack Warning Labels so that Kenyans are aware when buying foods that are high in sugar, salt or saturated fats
c) The national and county governments should agree on a framework to regulate the advertisement of unhealthy foods and beverages, especially those that target children and adolescents. Among other provisions, the regulations should bar placement of such adverts near schools or being broadcast during the watershed hours.
Conclusion
As ambassadors of Christ, we conclude by restating the key message that the Lord God has given to all people, as it is 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.
As the people of Kenya, and moreso residents of the Lower Eastern Region, let us seek and promote justice and mercy so that we preserve our nation. It is our prayer that God will help us to transform the state of lives of the people for a just, resilient and sustainable nation.
We wish all of you a Christ-centered Christmas and a God-filled and blessed New Year 2026.
Signed on this 21st day of 2025 at St Joseph Pastoral Center, Machakos.
Major Leonard Kasyoka
Chairman, NCCK Lower Eastern Region
