Church leaders in Nyeri under the Ecumenical Council of Bishops have asked politicians to prioritize development.
Led by the Council’s chairman, Archbishop Anthony Muheria of the Catholic Diocese of Nyeri, the clergy say that it is barely two years since the 2022 General Election and adding that the ongoing political debate over who should be endorsed as the Deputy President in 2027 is ill-timed.
The bishops have argued that the country is battling a myriad of economic and social challenges and asked the political class to focus on delivering services, especially to those who are adversely affected by the high cost of living.
“Let us focus on building this nation. Let us focus on the issues that are affecting the Kenyans. And the issues affecting the Kenyan are the cost of living, unemployment, issues about the development of our places and that the schools should not be expensive and that our children can find a school,” said the Archbishop.
“I think the focus has to be the people we serve, not our gains or our fame. We should make service our main concern, not just thinking about elections. Let us also have less rhetoric, less competition, less exchanges and let us give services,” added Archbishop Muheria.
The Bishops were speaking in Ihururu in Nyeri County yesterday during an Archdiocesan Ecumenical Service that brought together church leaders from the mainstream churches and the evangelical churches from the county. The service was preceded by a tree planting session at the Nyeri Hill to mark this year’s end of the Ecumenical week.
Traditionally the Ecumenical week of prayer is celebrated between 18-25 January. During the week of prayers, different churches exchange preachers and arrange special prayer services with the clarion call being Christian Unity.
Also present during the special service were Tetu Deputy County Commissioner, Virginia Njeri and Nyeri Deputy Governor, Warui Kinaniri who echoed the clergy’s sentiments. The deputy governor attributed the disconnect between the political class and the electorate to the clamour for popularity and urged his political counterparts to focus on fulfilling their election promises.
“The problem we have as leaders is we are not sticking to our lanes, we are deviating and going to other people’s lanes and that is why we are witnessing this kind of conflict. We were given a responsibility and let us (elected leaders) do our part. When that time comes for 2027 people will announce their intentions but for now we should stick to our lane,” said Kinaniri.
By Wangari Mwangi and Wanjiru Ndiritu
