Prepare Kenya for Justice and Peace in 2022 Transitions – Nyanza Regional Conference

Press Statement

Preamble

The NCCK Nyanza Regional Conference has held a blended meeting between 8^th – 9^th August 2021 here at Jumuia Guest House, Kisumu with other delegates joining via online platform. The 13^th Regional Conference was guided by the theme “A wholesome Youth for A Wholesome Society– 1 Timothy 4:12”

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

In our reflections, we recognized that as a people, we must stop looking down on the youth and accord them opportunities to influence and impact the society in a godly way. We should provide guidance and mentorship as Paul did to Timothy. It is in this regard that we share this message with the nation and with our region:

Prepare for Just, Peaceful and Credible Elections

This Regional Conference recognizes that every five years, the country refreshes her political leadership through constitutionally guided General Elections. There is a great need for adequate preparations to be made to ensure that General Elections are just, peaceful, credible, free and fair. All election related institutions have an obligation to execute their mandate in an equitable manner so that all Kenyans are accorded the opportunity to play their part in the electoral processes. Towards this, we:

Call upon parliament to speedily complete the process of vetting the nominees for position of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners
Call upon the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to present to Kenyans the findings and recommendations of the Post-Election Evaluation (PEE) conducted after the 2017 General Elections. The country must be assured that the shortcomings that affected the 2017 General Elections will not feature in future elections.
Call upon the Ministry of Interior and Security Agency to partner with faith institutions to build county and sub county peace structures so as to ensure safety of all Kenyans before, during and after elections. Our region has in the past suffered electoral violence and we do not wish to go through the same again.
Call upon development partners and friends of Kenya to support non state actors to provide comprehensive Civic and Voter education in a timely manner so that Kenyans have the civic competence to effectively engage in the election

Empower The Youth For Leadership

This Regional Conference has noted that the youth who take up more than 70 per cent of our population, have significantly been left out of leadership in the church and the nation at large. We commit ourselves to remedy this by assimilating the youth in our structures, and empowering and supporting those who aspire for political and social leadership.

We also take this time to advice our youth to strongly resist those who intend to hire them to engage in violence before, during and after the elections. Remember, those who use you to engage in violence will dump you once their agenda is realized and you will be left with no benefit. We instead encourage you to use your numbers to demand for and take up decision making positions in the political parties you support.

Safeguard the Pulpit

We have in this Regional Conference recognized that we have an obligation to provide spiritual nurture to all people who come to our places of worship, regardless of their status in society or political alignment. We have committed ourselves to safeguard the pulpit in our churches by not allowing politicians and aspirants to campaign to congregations during worship services.

We recognize that every believer has a right to hold and exercise a political opinion. However, that opinion should not be imposed on a congregation or a church. We therefore encourage our fellow clergy to avoid endorsing candidates or seemingly aligning their churches to particular political parties. The church should remain accessible to people of all political persuasions, but not allow itself to be manipulated with handouts.

Make Education Affordable

This Regional Conference has noted with concern the massive exploitation of parents by Educational institutions. Whereas there are government policies on school fees, we have noted that schools are demanding many other items to be purchased by parents at exorbitant rates. We call upon the Ministry of Education to investigate the matter so as to make Education affordable to all Kenyans.

Conclusion

We conclude our message by reiterating that the youth are one of the greatest resources our nation has and we should put in place structures and platforms to involve them in leadership and decision making processes.

Let us always join in praying for our nation with the words of our National Anthem:

O God of all creation, Bless this our land and nation. Justice be our shield and defender, May we dwell in unity, Peace and liberty.

We pray that God will bless the Nyanza Region and the entire Kenya now and always.

Signed on this 9^th day of August 2021 at Jumuia Hotel, Kisumu

Rt Rev Prof David Kodia

Chairman, NCCK Nyanza Region