Justice Be Our Shield and Defender
October 16, 2024
Justice Be Our Shield and Defender
Press Statement
Preamble
The religious leaders drawn from the National Council of Churches of Kenya, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims convened at Ufungamano House, Nairobi, to review the state of the nation. The meeting was challenged by the word of God recorded in Amos 5: 15
Hate evil, love good, maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.
And in the Quran (An Nisaa 4: 135)
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives.
Kenya is going through a very difficult period that is really a man-made disaster. Seeking to contribute to shepherding the nation out of this crisis, we now share the following message.
1. State of the Nation
In different national surveys, 73% of Kenyans have stated that the nation is heading in the wrong direction. We concur with this finding, and do remind the three arms of government, that is the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary, to make a radical shift to redeem the nation. We remind you that if this nation perishes, the blood of Kenyans will be on your hands.
In a snapshot, the following concerns of the people of Kenya require immediate action for remedy:
- Politicians are engaging in massive ethnic mobilization for political activism, ostensibly in readiness for the 2027 General Elections. We recall that similar mobilization was witnessed in the years leading up to the 2007 elections, and the outcome was the devastating Post Election Violence whose effects are being felt even today. Why is the government setting up Kenyans for violence?
- The failure to constitute the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is a gross injustice to the people of Kenya. The constitutional rights of the residents of counties without Deputy Governors, constituencies without Members of National Assembly, and wards without Members of County Assemblies are being violated since they cannot elect their representatives.
- Massive and gross corruption continues to permeate every sector and level of the nation. The impunity being displayed by national and county government officials is nauseating, and killing the soul of the nation. God is certain to punish a nation that allows itself to worship greed and corruption.
- Kenyans are heart broken by the apparent betrayal by the Members of Parliament who have chosen to limit themselves to only executing the business and interests of the Executive. How can both National Assembly and Senate persistently lack quorum to discuss matters of interest to the citizens but are full house to deliberate on State House driven agenda? To whom will Kenyans resort for rescue from Parliamentary tyranny that is emerging?
- There is massive suffering and devastation of lives across the nation due to the rushed, opaque and forced transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) / Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). How many people must die before this draconian action is remedied? Why must Kenyans be forced to pay billions of shillings to brokers who add no value to the healthcare of the people? Why have the benefits Kenyans were getting under NHIF been reduced under the SHIF yet they are required to pay more?
- Education of Kenyans has been greatly hampered by the change in the University education funding model, which has caused hundreds of students to fail to resume classes. What was so wrong with the previous model that it had to be changed?
2. Demand for Justice for Kenyans
In the National Anthem, Kenyans persistently declare that Justice is the bedrock of the nation by declaring it to be the shield and defender. The nation cannot dwell in unity, peace and liberty without justice.
We now demand that the Executive, the Legislature and Judiciary dispense justice to the people of Kenya by taking the following measures:
One, immediately conclude the constitution of the IEBC Commissioners Selection Panel, and have it facilitated to carry out its mandate in the shortest time possible. We especially call on the Speaker of the National Assembly to appoint the representative of Parliamentary Service Commission, and the Political Parties Tribunal to resolve the dispute touching on representative of Azimio Coalition without further delay.
Two, cancel all the contracts that have been issued to Adani related companies that have been or are seeking to be entrenched in health sector, electricity transmission and management of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Adani related companies are not investors to the extent that they are not bringing in money into the country, and are therefore seemingly merely a front for companies of Kenyan officials. We remind government officials that across the world, countries that engaged Adani related companies, which include India, Australia and Bangladesh, are today crying and seeking to cancel the same.
Three, Parliament must without delay withdraw all the anti-people bills that have been tabled. These include all the nine agriculture-related bills, as well as the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2024 which is seeking to extend the term of elected leaders from five to seven years. Parliamentarians should serve Kenyans or resign to go and serve their other interests.
Four, the country should revert to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), coupled with a suspension of the implementation of the Social Health Authority / Social Health Insurance Fund laws until the transition is made seamless, and the new model facilitates justice for Kenyans.
Five, we demand that the new university funding model be suspended to allow for further consultations and to ensure justice and fairness to all students.
3. Impeachment of the Deputy President
Whereas the Constitution of Kenya 2010 provides for the impeachment of the Deputy President, this is the first time in the history of the nation this process is being undertaken. We call upon the Senate to ensure justice is done and seen to be done, recognizing that what they undertake will set a precedence for the nation. It is our heartfelt wish that the Members of Parliament exercised similar energy and resources on matters that are priority to the lives of the people of Kenya as they have in debating the impeachment.
Further, we call upon His Excellency President William Ruto to speak on this matter of the impeachment of the Deputy President. This is not only a matter of national interest, but also
Further, we call upon His Excellency President William Ruto to speak on this matter of the impeachment of the Deputy President. This is not only a matter of national interest, but also one concerning the principal assistant of the President, and Kenyans have a right to know the President’s position on the matter.
On their part, we urge the people of Kenya to remain peaceful regardless of the outcome of the impeachment process.
Conclusion
We conclude our message by recalling the guidance God has given in Jeremiah 22: 3
This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.
And also in Surah Ar-Raad 11
Indeed, Allah would never change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.
Let us all pursue justice, and stand up to defend the wellbeing of every Kenyan.
May God bless the nation of Kenya now and always.
Signed on this 16th day of October 2024 at Christian Students Leadrship Center (Ufungamano House), Nairobi.
Rev Dr Elias Agola
NCCK Chairman
Rt. Rev. Simon Peter Kamomoe
Chairman, Catholic Justice and Peace Department
Sh Muhdhar A Ahmed
Deputy Chairman, SUPKEM