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August 6, 2009

After broken pledge, hold new elections, says Kenya church council

by Fredrick Nzwili
Ecumenical News International

NAIROBI — Kenya should have fresh elections because its coalition government has backed away from a pledge to set up a special tribunal to try suspected perpetrators of post-election violence in early 2008, says the east African country's national church council.

“This government has now failed to protect justice and has become a grand defender of impunity,” the National Council of Churches in Kenya said in a statement that was issued on July 31. “In the face of such betrayal, Kenyans must resoundingly put across a strong message that the moral authority of the grand coalition government to govern has been grossly undermined.”

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga agreed on a coalition in February 2008, after mediation by former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan. This followed weeks of violence that came after disputed elections at the end of 2007. Between 1,300 and 1,500 people lost their lives and another 300,000 were driven from their homes in the violence. The opposition led by Odinga said the election result was rigged.

The Kenyan church council had been urging that suspected instigators of the violence be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

The government had said it wanted instead to set up a local tribunal to try alleged perpetrators. In mid-July, however, it set up a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, a decision described by the NCCK as an attempt to “subvert” justice.

In a message to the Cabinet, the church council said, “By supporting the decision not to dispense justice with regard to the post-election violence, you have taken upon your hands the blood of the 1300 Kenyans who died in early 2008.”
 
The NCCK urged Kenyans, “to accelerate the clamor for the call for fresh elections.”

Some politicians, however, have accused the NCCK of inciting Kenyans to seek revenge, instead of promoting forgiveness and healing. There had also been some accusations that churches had taken sides in the violence.

“The same people are now crying for justice at the expense of the future of this country. They should not fail Kenyans again,” agriculture minister William Ruto told a public meeting on Aug. 1.

Presenting the council’s statement to the media, NCCK general secretary, the Rev. Peter Karanja, said the government has failed the nation.

“We warn you that your efforts to continue holding onto power will only result in destruction, bloodshed and death,” said Karanja, an Anglican priest, in a statement directed at the government. “Your greed and selfishness and failed leadership, has primed this nation for an outbreak of vicious violence that even you will not be able to control.”

Editor’s note: PC(USA) mission workers in Kenya include the Rev. Marta Bennett, teaching/leader development; the Rev. Phyllis Byrd, Young Adult Volunteer site coordinator/pastor; Irma and Dr. Salvador de la Torre, HIV/AIDS ministry; the Rev. Lyle and Terry Dykstra, theological educator/counseling young adults; the Rev. Brenda Harcourt, leadership training; and Young Adult Volunteers working in community development Rachel Brown, Henry Coates, Robert Quiring and Shelvis and Nancy Smith-Mather.

For information about and letters from PC(USA) mission workers around the world, visit the Mission Connection Web site. — Jerry L. Van Marter