Bishop Dominic Kimengich of the Eldoret Catholic diocese has called on Kenyans to practice mature politics as the country gears towards the 2022 general elections.
The bishop said the current trend where chaos and conflicts characterize politics in the country shows that Kenyans are yet to mature in politics.
Bishop Kimengich, who was speaking during the dedication of St. Peters Catholic church Kipsoen, called on politicians to sell their policies and let Kenyans decide instead of dividing wananchi along tribal lines.
“Leaders should always strive to unite Kenyans knowing that we are members of one big family called Kenya,” the cleric said.
He also cautioned Kenyans against demanding money from politicians during campaigns saying this was tantamount to selling their constitutional rights.
“We should listen to leaders, and pray to God to grant us wisdom to vote for a leader who has the best interests of the nation,” the bishop said.
He therefore appealed to Kenyans to maintain peace during this period knowing that politics come and go but the country will still remain.
Bishop Kimengich also appealed to residents of Kerio Valley to discard cattle rustling which has caused untold misery and retarded development in the area saying they are the only ones who can develop the area.
“We should put more efforts in what unites us as communities living in the Kerio Valley and not what divides us,” he said.
Speaking during the same occasion, Governor Alex Tolgos called for continued cooperation between the church and the government in maintaining peace along the volatile Kerio Valley.
The governor also called on the national government to compensate people and families who have lost loved ones and property to the clashes in the Kerio Valley.
By Alice Wanjiru