The clergy in Kajiado have expressed concern over the rising political temperatures in the country and urged elected leaders to stop divisive utterances.
According to Bishop Gaddiel Lenini of the Anglican Church of Kenya in Kajiado, utterances that have been made by politicians in recent days were pol arising the country along ethnic lines and causing unnecessary tension.
Bishop Lenini cautioned politicians to desist from making inflammatory and divisive utterances and instead concentrate on development issues and serving the electorate.
He called on the leaders to be at the forefront in addressing unity and peaceful co-existence among Kenyans and not preaching politics of division.
“Kenya is bigger than any of us and as leaders we must put our country first and be careful not to cause division by our utterances but instead preach peace and unity and concentrate on serving Kenyans”, said the Bishop.
Elizabeth Senei, Maendeleo ya Wanawake chair in Loitokitok, said the political jabs being traded were ill-timed and intended to divide the country.
Senei said Kenyans were tired of politics and want development issues that affect them addressed.
She called on the President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and condemn the divisive utterances made by a section of politicians and urge them to stop raising political temperatures but instead preach peace and unity and focus on serving Kenyans.
“I want to urge politicians to concentrate on serving wananchi, all these utterances being made do not help Kenyans but instead raise tension among communities. The time for politics is still far, right now leaders should concentrate on development issues only” said Senei.
Senei further called on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to be vigilant on utterances made by politicians publicly and arrest those who are out to pull back efforts made in ensuring unity and peace reigns in the country.
The remarks come a day after a section of leaders condemned remarks made by Emurua Dikirir MP Johanna Ng’eno and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi against President Uhuru and his family.
Deputy President William Ruto distanced himself from the utterances made by the two leaders saying that “no amount of anger justifies the use of offensive insulting language” to the president.
He said leaders should exercise restraint and avoid insults and bad language against other Kenyans.
ODM leader Raila Odinga castigated leaders using inflammatory language that could whip up emotions, likening this to beating the drums of war.
“Beating the drums of war will not work. I appeal to these leaders to stand for a united Kenya and tell off those people who issue threats against fellow Kenyans,” said Raila, who was addressing the Press after a meeting with Maasai leaders from Kajiado County.
Ngeno was arrested on Monday and charged with hate speech contrary to section 13(1) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008 and conduct conducive to breaches of peace contrary to section 94 of the Penal Code.
Section 13 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act provides that a person who uses “threatening, abusive or insulting words, commits an offense if such person intends thereby to stir up ethnic hatred, or having regard to all circumstances, ethnic hatred is likely to be stirred up.”
It also provides that: “any person who commits an offense under this section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.”
By Rop Janet
