The Nakuru County Governor, Lee Kinyanjui has called on politicians to stop raising political temperatures and instead focus on serving Kenyans.
Kinyanjui accused a section of Governors, Senators and Members of Parliament of plunging the country into a political mode at the expense of development.
The governor, addressing Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop’s Conference at Kabarak University’s main Campus in Rongai on Tuesday, warned the political elite that Kenyans were getting fed up with leaders who had ignored President Uhuru Kenyatta’s call for unity, in order to bring development during the remaining three years before the 2022 general elections.
“It’s a pity that since the last election, the country has been engulfed with politics in all corners. Kenyans are no longer interested in mere rhetoric but want development projects that will improve their living standards. It is high time leaders respected wananchi and focused on work instead of politics,” he said.
“Kenya’s diversity is being ravaged by divisive politics. Our leaders have ignored issues Kenyans want addressed and shifted focus on 2022 campaigns. I urge them to channel this energy supporting the President in delivering development that is beneficial to the common mwananchi,” Kinyanjui said.
Addressing the forum that was graced by ACK Archbishop, Jackson Ole Sapit, the governor observed that Kenya was inevitably headed for a constitutional referendum.
He challenged the Church to team up with other religious organizations to provide guidance to Kenyan voters.
“Some selfish politicians from across political divide who are either proposing or opposing the constitutional referendum are engaging in propaganda that’s causing tension in the country. We need peace and tolerance in the country,” Kinyanjui said.
“We plead with our leaders to go slow with their political activities and let Kenyans have the final say on the nature of amendments they want on the documents. The ruling elite should keep off as they will advance their personal interests. Sensitization programmes and public awareness campaigns should be left to neutral players such as the clergy,” stated the governor.
The Anglican Church of Kenya leaders are meeting to discuss issues affecting the country, including corruption and the imminent Mau evictions.
The three-day National Conference at Kabarak University has attracted over 2,000 participants, including bishops and clergies from the ACK’s 41 dioceses across the country.
“We will discuss issues coming out of the Punguza Mizigo and the Building the Bridges initiatives. We will also talk about corruption and its impacts on Kenyans,” Archbishop Ole Sapit said.
Kinyanjui affirmed that the devolved unit’s administration was behind Uhuru’s Big Four Agenda to transform the country and improve the livelihoods of Kenyans.
He called on politicians to shelve their political ambitions for a successive and smooth implementation of the agenda.
“The country is on a recovery path from divisive politics, tribalism and corruption following new interventions. We are all obligated to promote cohesiveness so that when 2022 comes, people will sell their party manifestos instead of dividing the country along regional and ethnic lines,” he said.
“Kenya is a unique country where former heads of state, retired top politicians and technocrats enjoy their sunset years in peace. In other African countries they are either in exile or in jail. The political games being played by politicians in the country are ill-timed and intended to divide the country,” the governor said.
He said every Kenyan has a responsibility to leave a positive mark in the country as a way of passing good deeds to the next generation.
By Anne Mwale
