Nairobi archdiocese Archbishop Philip Anyolo has revealed religious leaders in the country are ready to reconcile President William Ruto and his political nemesis Raila Odinga.
Addressing the matter on July 16 at St Bernadette Catholic Church in Ngoingwa area of Thika, Kiambu County, Anyolo revealed that the inter-religious group of spiritual leaders are ready to mediate talks between the two.
While expressing concerns that disagreements between the two politicians could result in political intolerance between their supporters, Anyolo stated that while church leaders are already organizing to unite the dual, a reunion depends on the willingness of the two.
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Anyolo condemned the demonstrations held in various parts of the country, saying they might get out of hand and cause anarchy.
He stated that while the opposition team is constitutionally allowed to express themselves, they should not infringe on the right of other Kenyans through the destruction of both private and public property.
The archbishop was joined by Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a who urged Kenyans to seek peace with each other rooting in the need for dialogue. He insisted that it is only through talks that a permanent solution will be found for the social-economic development of the country.
“Enter into a dialogue and discuss issues. Dialogue will resolve things and if we never enter into dialogue about issues, we shall get half solutions of the very problems that we have and which might spill over even in the next generations. We want to ask our government and our leaders to exercise servant leadership that looks into the needs of the people and comes down to talk, just like families do,” Anyolo said.
Adding:
“We also want to talk to the opposition side to take notice that perhaps what is happening might get out of control, if they care for the people of Kenya, then they should hold organized and well-planned demonstrations to avoid any destruction of public and private property. Many Kenyans have died as a result of demonstrations and this situation, when it goes out of control, can be destructive.”
Anyolo revealed that hungry Kenyans, among them the demonstrators have been streaming to catholic churches in Nairobi, begging for food. He however said the church cannot sustain food donations to the increasing number of hunger-stricken Kenyans.
“This suffering has caused a lot of pain among the people because of starvation and increased cost of living. Of late we have seen so many people coming to the archdiocese to look for food because they were not able to work and some of them never worked because they were demonstrating,” Anyolo went on.
At the same time, Anyolo urged the government to pay attention and find solutions for challenges bedeviling Kenyans, including the high cost of living to calm the tensions being witnessed in various parts of the country during mass protests.
Anyolo further took issue with both government and opposition leaders for their continuous use of vulgar, war, and criminal languages, saying they were setting a bad example to youngsters who are looking up to them for political role models.
“Stop talking in public using languages that are unpleasant to the ears of Kenyans. We are a growing nation and many of us Kenyans are young people who are looking for good role models, especially in the political area of life. We want the government and the opposition leaders to cease speaking in vulgar, war, and criminal languages in public,” Archbishop Philip Anyolo went on.
MP Ng’ang’a who was also present urged congregants to pray for the country ahead of planned Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday protests saying that the Kenya Kwanza government is ready to work and deliver the promises it made to Kenyans.
“No one knows like God. We were given subsidized fertilizers but they criticized the program. We are now about to harvest enough food because of God. This government came through prayers and the same must be sustained through prayers. We need to initiate infrastructural developments that will spur our economic activities,” MP Ng'ang'a weighed in.
