The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has warned Kenyans against voting for leaders who promote immoral and unethical practices.
In a statement read by KCCB chairman who is also Nyeri Archbishop Anthony Muheria, the bishops urged Kenyans to interrogate all those seeking leadership posts on their stand on ethical issues such as immoral sexual behavior and drug use among the youth.
According to the bishops, the next crop of leaders should not only uphold the common good for the citizens as outlined in the constitution but should also promote the traditional African and Christian family values.
“We specifically caution you and ask you to stand up against those leaders who propose to destroy life at its initial stages in their mother’s womb by proposing to support abortion as an agenda. Those who have an agenda of liberalization of sexual behaviour including pornography should also be rejected. You should also stand up against bad leaders who propose the destruction of our youth through the liberalization of drug use,” said Muheria while addressing congregants at Our Lady of Consolata, Nyeri Cathedral.
“Any leader clearly supporting such agenda should not be elected. Furthermore, a leader who supports an immoral agenda will not have a conscience and this spells doom for society,” he added.
Muheria advised Kenyans to vote in servant leaders who will address the challenges that the nation continue to grapple with.
“Our nation Kenya, will become the character of leaders we elect. We will be choosing leaders who will determine the destiny of our wards, constituencies, counties and our country for the next five years. We therefore, cannot afford to be casual in the way we elect leaders,” he said.
He also challenged the electorate to take time, read through and interrogate the manifestos presented by politicians as a way of determining their worthiness.
The cleric said Kenyans should settle for a leader whose tenure will not expose the country to negative consequences.
“We are not looking forward to electing saints or angels. However, we are aware that many times we have elected leaders whose performance in leadership continue to haunt us and who bring their evil personality to leadership. We need to elect leaders who understand our desire to labour together in building our nation.
A candidate who demonstrates a spirit of reconciliation is good for this country and not only reconciliation among people, but also with nature through environmental friendly agenda,” he added.
On corruption, Muheria said that the Catholic Church was still firm against the vice.
He called upon Kenyans to elect leaders who commit themselves to fighting corruption by offering practical actions on how they intend to stem the vice.
At the same time, said it was imperative to ensure that those voted for come August 9, should be leaders who uphold the rule of law.
By Wangari Mwangi
