2016-04-11 15:00:00

Kenyan Bishops: ICC ruling denies victims healing


At the weekend, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) issued a pastoral statement to the media on the State of the Nation in which they tackled current issues affecting Kenya. Prominent among these matters is the 5 April ICC decision which has polarized opinion in Kenya.

Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) terminated the case against Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto and former journalist Joshua arap Sang, who were facing charges of crimes against humanity in the post-2007 election violence.

The ICC cited interference with prosecution witnesses and political meddling as reasons for terminating the case.  Notwithstanding some victory celebrations in Kenya, the ICC judges declined to acquit outrightly Ruto and Sang. Initially, the two were charged together with Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta and others for the same case.

The ICC decision means that for the majority of the victims, closure the truth, justice, reparations and guarantee of non-repetition has been denied them.  In their pastoral statement, addressed to Kenyans, the Kenyan Bishops seem to agree.

“As Catholic Bishops, we see the ruling, not as an outcome of winners and losers. However, the result of the decision does not resolve the cause and pain of the violence. We realize that the trauma of the post-election violence has not been fully healed. Moreover, many of the displaced persons still have not gotten justice. Our appeal to the national government and other County Governments is to offer solutions for the victims, through compensations and plans of reconciliation and integration. This is an opportunity for Kenya to sincerely demonstrate its commitment of never again to take the country back to the dark days of 2007/2008.”

The Pastoral Statement of the Bishops also calls appeals to Kenyans to shun corruption which they say is killing the country and "making us a sick nation.".

“Corruption cannot be weeded out by half-hearted measures. It has to be a total war using all the means that we have as a country. Nobody should be spared beginning from the top to the bottom, the mighty or the least, those who have and those who have not. All those mentioned as kingpins of corruption must be investigated and prosecuted when facts are proven. Those holding public positions and linked with corruption must step aside immediately to pave way for investigations,” the Bishops appeal.

The Bishops make specific mention of “endemic corruption in the Police Service and other security agencies.”

Other issues in the pastoral statement include the condemnation of political alliances based on ethnicity. These alliances, the Bishops say are clearly not “the coming together of like- minded individuals or groups but [rather the] bringing together [of] various tribes so that they can vote as blocs,” the statement said.

The Bishops urge Kenyans to tackle Cultural Radicalization among the youth. Another area of concern for the Bishops is the  the issue of cheating in examinations, stealing of papers and other malpractices prevalent in national school examinations.

(engafrica@vatiradio.va)

Find below the full statement of the Bishop:

 

Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Press Statement on the State of the Nation

SITUATION OF OUR NATION

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life" (Mk 8:36-37).

Introduction

Dear Brothers and Sisters, we the Catholic Bishops of Kenya, gathered for our Ordinary Plenary Assembly of Bishops, at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Nairobi, greet you in the words of the Risen Christ on that Easter evening, "Peace be with you". As we take time to reflect on the life and mission of the Church, we have also had time to reflect on the state of our Nation and therefore, as your shepherds, wish to raise our voice on several issues that are of great concern to all of us.

The visit of His Holiness Pope Francis is still fresh in our minds. The experience of his visit is unforgettable. His example of humility, his powerful and bold message to all Kenyans, his concern for young people of this nation, the poorest of the poor in our slums, and indeed the care of our environment are experiences that will forever shape and transform our society. As we embrace and live the excitement of this visit, the task of building on the foundation of his message must be sustained with greater enthusiasm.

We are eternally grateful for his ever first and historic visit. Kenyans must feel blessed and encouraged by this visit. We sincerely thank the Holy Father for choosing Kenya as the first stop in his Apostolic visit to Africa. Our message to you dear Kenyans, taking the encouraging words of the Holy Father, "Stand strong in Faith, Do not be afraid" is contained in this reflection on the state of our beloved Country Kenya.

"You shall be my Witnesses", (Acts 1:8) for the Sanctification and Salvation of all People.

Our National Foundation

When our forefathers and all those who struggled for the birth of this great Nation of Kenya fought for our independence, they dreamt of a sovereign Nation where all will have equal opportunities to develop, prosper and live in dignity freed from the scourges of poverty, diseases and illiteracy. This vision was not only for themselves and their children but for all generations to come.

They dreamt of a Country guided by visionary leaders who would have the welfare of the entire Country at heart; National Leaders of integrity who would rise above petty personal and ethnic interests so as to forge a united Nation that would shine among other Nations as a place of peace, prosperity and integrity. Our founding fathers expected those who would come after them to keep the dream alive and move the Country forward to even greater heights.

What we need to ask ourselves now is: Is our Country heading in the right direction that will bring development and prosperity to all Kenyans? Have things in Kenya developed the way our founders envisaged or are there serious shortcomings and pitfalls that need to be addressed urgently? Are the present leaders we have living up to the standards required so as to deliver the promises made and meet the aspirations of all Kenyans?

Without doubt there are some strides made towards the right direction. However, a quick glance at the present situation of our Country reveals some dangerous trends and practices that should make everyone who has this country at heart concerned and wonder whether those principles and ideals that our forefathers fought and gave their lives for are not going down the drain.

International Criminal Court (ICC) Ruling

During our Plenary Assembly we received the news of the outcome of the ICC case involving our Deputy President and a Journalist. As Catholic Bishops, we see the ruling, not as an outcome of winners and losers.

However, the outcome of the ruling does not resolve the cause and pain of the violence. We realize that the trauma of the post-election violence has not been fully healed. Moreover, many of the displaced persons still have not gotten justice. Our appeal to the National Government and other County Governments, is to offer solutions for the victims, through compensations and plans of reconciliation and integration. This is an opportunity for Kenya to sincerely demonstrate its commitment of NEVER again to take the Country back to the dark days of 2007/2008, to be more conscious of the plight of the victims, to invest more in building true reconciliation and work towards a truly united Nation. It must never be forgotten that many people lost their lives; thousands more were displaced and have never gone back to normal life. In this Year of the Jubilee of Mercy, Kenya has the opportunity to initiate a new beginning. This must be our concern and our focus.

Corruption: A Disease that Is making us a sick nation

The cancer of corruption is killing our Country. The ordinary men and women are bearing the burden of corruption. The majority of Kenyans are wallowing in poverty and are unable to meet their basic needs. They don't have access to proper medical care. They lack adequate educational facilities and enough teachers for quality education. The youth see no future because of unemployment and even where there is the possibility of jobs they have to pay bribes and kickbacks to secure those jobs. Similarly, unless they know somebody high up nobody will consider them. The daily revelations and exposure of corrupt deals and stealing of money from public coffers by top Government officials, paints a picture of how low we have sunk as a Country. The fact that the cancer has spread to all arms of government and is going on in both national and County Governments, as well as other sectors of the Kenyan society, tempts one to despair and to give up without a fight. We can't give up. Now is the time to rise and face this malignant disease with all the weapons we have.

Pope Francis, during his visit to Kenya last year decried this sickness and pointed out that the only way to root out corruption is by each one of us saying "No to corruption. The Pope called upon all of us to declare war on corruption and fight to the end.

Corruption cannot be weeded out by half-hearted measures. It has to be a total war using all the means that we have as a Country. Nobody should be spared beginning from the top to the bottom, the mighty or the least, those who have and those who have not. All those mentioned as kingpins of corruption must be investigated and prosecuted when facts are proven. Those holding public positions and linked with corruption must step aside immediately to pave way for investigation.

Stealing Of Examination Papers and cheating in schools

The Examination leakages, the selling of examination papers and sharing these examination papers witnessed last year constituted one of the worst forms of corruption that this Country has ever experienced. Cheating in exams has far reaching consequences not only for our education system but the integrity of the Country itself. The people involved in this racket have punctured the integrity of our education. Stealing examination papers will kill the reading culture of our students and make meaningless their effort to study and the quest for knowledge that is at the heart of learning.

All those officials involved in the racket should not only be sacked but should be brought to book and punished accordingly for this is a crime against our beloved Nation and a crime against the future of the children of this Country.

It is incumbent upon the new Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Board to redeem the image and dignity of our education standards.

Judiciary and Independent Electoral And Boundaries Commission (IEBC) 

We are appalled by the information that those very institutions that bear the most necessary responsibilities of our Country are now rotting away with corruption. Allegations of corruption have been levelled against the Judiciary, and what is more, against the highest Court in the land, the Supreme Court. So where do we go for justice?

The Election process is one of the most important activities of any country, to promote good governance and democracy. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is such an important institution to oversee this process, that when it is also riddled with corruption and incompetence, then our democracy and future growth of this nation is in danger. There is need on the part of all of us and especially those involved to make them more effective in accordance with the constitution in order to restore their credibility and confidence.

The Police

The endemic corruption in the Police Service and other security agencies is yet another of those diseases that have eaten into the fabric of our Nation, thereby exposing Kenyans to the perennial threats of terrorism, insecurity and violence. This is clearly obvious to Kenyans in the bribes exchanged at police check points and stations. Our borders are not secure, our roads are mere collection points, our towns and villages are not safe. Kenyans do not feel safe.

Kenyans! give no bribe, receive no bribe!

Political Leaders

If the very institutions constitutionally appointed to oversee the affairs of Kenyans are now deeply involved in the disease of corruption and the rot of our nation, then we are left wondering to whom to turn. If the very legislators elected to represent the Kenyans, in formulating policies of developing lives are accomplices in Corruption, shuttling around the country, making inciting statements that raise political temperatures especially when elections are near, then our country is sick. We must put an end to this. We, the Catholic Bishops wish to raise our voices to our political leaders and say, this must stop. Let us stop bleeding our Country to death. As your shepherds we are not going to allow our Churches and institutions to become platforms of political rhetoric, campaign venues, foul language and hideouts for looted funds and corrupt monies.

We appeal to the consciences of all our leaders, those heading constitutional commissions, institutions and bodies, our leaders in the executive, the Judiciary and the legislature to seriously remember the duty incumbent upon them and to realize that this is our Country. We are all part of it. If it sinks, we sink together.

Radical Ethnicity

While tribalism has been a problem in Kenya, the way ethnicity is being radicalized today is very worrying. This is clearly seen in political alliances that are not so much based on the coming together of like- minded individuals or groups but on bringing together various tribes so that they can vote as blocs. It is also evident whenever an action is taken against an individual, who has done some malpractices, immediately the cry is heard that he or she is being punished, or removed, because he or she comes from that tribe or the other. Another area that tribalism is being practiced without shame is in the Counties. To be employed in the County one has to come from the dominant tribe or clan. Some Kenyans are being termed as minorities in some Counties hence tribalism has been devolved and is now entrenched in the Counties. We are now looking at everything from the prism of ethnicity.

Cultural Radicalization of the Youth

In the recent past, we have witnessed an alarming rate of the radicalization of youths into dangerous groups and activities that have created insecurity and deviant behaviour. The information that many young people are being lured into events and activities that expose them to immorality and cultural decadence is worrying us all. We are seeing a culture that endorses immorality spreading all over the Country. We note with sadness the use of indecent and vulgar language by those who are in position of leadership. This is giving a bad example to the young people. What is more worrying is the organized corruption of the youth through bribery, supply of drugs and promotion of sexual immorality in designated places. Parents seem to have abdicated their parental role and neglected the upbringing of their children in the morally accepted ways.

We are concerned that while we witness this decadence there is a tendency to conveniently side-line religion in schools, and the role of the Church in our Education institutions. We condemn very strongly those who corrupt the youth by distributing money and drugs. We are consequently moving towards a Godless society, where there is no regard for all objective roles that characterize a civilized Nation.

As your shepherds, we call upon you the young people of Kenya, to heed the powerful message of Pope Francis at Kasarani. You must not waste your lives. Do not give in to the devil. Look to Christ as your model and refuse to be lured by the passing pleasures of this world. As your shepherds we commit ourselves to journey with' you and help you to have hope and recognize your dignity. We urge all those who work with and for the young people to help them cherish their hopes and aspirations.

"The Love Of Money Is The Root Cause Of Evil" (1 Tim. 6: 10

Our society has turned money into a god. Some People tend to live for money and their philosophy is to have as much money as possible, as quickly as possible and in any way possible. The madness to make more and more money is permeating all levels of our society. Those entrusted with National and County resources are plundering these resources without blinking an eye. We call upon the citizens of this Country to be vigilant and expose all the thieves who should then be made to return the money they have stolen and made to face the law.

Conclusion

Dear Kenyans, we encourage you not to lose hope. Christ has gained victory over despair. We must never slacken in our determination to make Kenya a home for all of us. Let us all fight the evil within us, let us commit ourselves individually and collectively to reject any form of corruption that is destroying our social fabric. We urge all God loving people, of all religions, faiths and confessions, to take the lead in fighting evil. As your Church leaders we are prepared to join and support efforts to create a society of love, peace and integrity. May the message of Pope Francis burn within the hearts of all people of Kenya like the Emmaus Disciples and inspire us into action.

As we conclude we pray invoking the Prayer of Pope Francis to the Jubilee of Mercy, "that the Lord may send his Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed and restore sight to the blind."

Signed: Rt Rev. Phillip Anyolo

Chairman –Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops/Homa Bay

Date: April 8 2016

 

Rt. Rev. John Oballa Owaa, Vice Chairman- (KCCB)/Ngong

His Eminence John Cardinal Njue, Nairobi

Most Rev. Zacchaeus Okoth, Kisumu

Most Rev. Peter Kairo, Nyeri

Most Rev. Martin Kivuva Musonde, Mombasa

Rt. Rev. Cornelius Arap Korir, Eldoret

Rt. Rev. Joseph Mairura Okemwa, Kisii

Rt. Rev. Alfred Rotich, Military Ordinariate

Rt. Rev. Maurice Crowley, Kitale

Rt. Rev. Norman Wambua King'oo, Bungoma

Rt. Rev. Peter Kihara, IMC, Marsabit

Rt. Rev. David Kamau Ng'ang'a, Aux. Bishop Nairobi

Rt. Rev. Anthony Ired Mukobo, IMC, lsiolo Vicariate

Rt. Rev. Virgilio Pante, Maralal

Rt. Rev. Salesius Mugarnbi, Meru

Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Okombo, Kericho

Rt. Rev. Anthony Muheria, Kitui/ Apostolic Administrator, Machakos

Rt. Rev. James Maria Wainaina, Murang'a

Rt. Rev. Paul Kariuki Njiru, Embu

Rt. Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba, Nakuru

Rt. Rev. Dominic Kimengich, Lodwar

Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Barbara, Malindi

Rt. Rev. Joseph Mbatia, Nyahururu

Rt. Rev. Joseph Alessandro, Garissa

Rt. Rev. Joseph Obanyi Sagwe, Kakamega

 

 








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