Henry Makori*
I would like to comment on the recent statement by the Catholic Bishops of Kenya on insecurity in the country. I found the statement rather interesting. Unknown people detonated explosives at a prayer-cum-political rally at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, on the evening of Sunday, June 13, causing a stampede in which six people died and over a hundred were reportedly injured.
That evening, fresh television footage from the park showed Protestant and Evangelical preachers who had conducted the rally fiercely accusing the government of being responsible for the attacks. They argued that because the rally was also used to drum up opposition to the Proposed Constitution of Kenya which goes to a referendum on August 4th, the government (which champions the 'Yes' side) must have had something to do with the terrible blasts.
The following day the Protestant and Evangelical church leaders issued a statement titled, ‘We hold government responsible’. The statement repeated the claims made the evening before. “We indeed consider that the attack was a pre-meditated aggression on democracy; a cowardly act seemingly aimed at scaring Kenyans from expressing their right to oppose the proposed constitution. Having been informed over and over that the passage of the new constitution during the referendum is a government project, we are left in no doubt that the government, either directly or indirectly, had a hand in this attack,” the statement said.
“We therefore hold the government and the Yes team responsible for the attack and for the blood that was shed unless they prove to Kenyans that someone else planted and detonated the devices.”
So, the Government of Kenya and the 'Yes' people were presumed guilty until proven innocent. Excellent jurisprudence, church!
The Catholic bishops’ statement issued four days later endorsed those sentiments - never mind that neither the Evangelical and Protestant preachers nor the bishops provided any evidence to corroborate the claim. The bishops said they were “surprised and shocked that someone decided to exonerate the government from this barbaric act without first waiting for the findings of the investigation of the police.” In the bishops’ wisdom, then, the government should have said nothing about serious criminal allegations made against it until police investigations proved it innocent. Did the church leaders themselves wait for any police investigations before pointing fingers?
Like the other church leaders, the bishops also concluded, as they waited for police investigations, that the blasts were meant to intimidate those opposed to the Proposed Constitution. “We wish to categorically state that we shall not be intimidated; neither shall our resolve to oppose this flawed draft be dented,” they said. On what grounds was this conclusion reached?
More curiously, while the church leaders have been swift to condemn the blasts at Uhuru Park, none of them has come out to denounce open hate speech and incitement by certain leaders opposed to the Proposed Constitution of Kenya. Some of the leaders have already appeared in court. There are also vernacular radio stations peddling what amounts to hate speech, but these too have not been censured by the clergy. Is it because the hate speech and incitement charges are linked to leaders of the No campaign which the church leaders support?
It appears so. In response to a campaign against hate speech by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission which has resulted in the arrest and arraignment in court of some politicians opposed to the Proposed Constitution, Protestant and Evangelical leaders issued a statement on Monday - not to condemn the hate speech and incitement widely reported by the media - but to accuse the NCIC of “selective application of the hate speech law”.
All this is, to say the least, shocking. Have church leaders resorted to blatant propaganda in their campaign against the Proposed Constitution of Kenya ahead of the referendum?
Time will surely tell.
*Henry Makori is editor of Expression Today, a publication of The Media Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Justice ... Protects Human Rights and Fosters Greater Trust between Nations
Archbishop Alain Lebeaupin
Archbishop Alain Paul Charles Lebeaupin who is the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, headed the Holy See's delegation to the International Criminal Court Review Conference of the Rome Statute that took place in Kampala last week. Here he reflects on the place of justice, how it protects human rights and fosters greater trust between Nations.
Twelve years ago, delegates went to Rome to undertake the goal of creating a new international legal structure which sought to ensure that gross violations of human rights would no longer be tolerated by the international community and that those responsible for perpetuating such violations would be held accountable for their actions.
Now, we come to Kampala to measure the effectiveness of these efforts and to continue to improve judicial systems to ensure that true justice is available to everyone in all corners of the globe.
At the heart of this exercise is the need to fully understand what it means when we speak of "justice." Justice is the virtue which recognizes the need for people to give due to God and each other and demands that each person respect the rights of each other and establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good. This justice is not based merely on legal determinations or juridical instruments but rather is based on the moral law which recognizes the inherent dignity of the human person.
This justice recognizes many forms: commutative justice, which regulates exchanges between persons and between institutions with strict adherence to their rights; distributive justice, which determines what the community owes its citizens in proportion to their needs and contributions; legal justice, which determines what a citizen owes the community, and social justice, which takes into account social, political and economic concerns as well as their corresponding structural dimensions within society.[b] By recognizing that the work for justice requires actions in many areas, we recognize that justice cannot be limited to the realm of legal accountability but also requires society to work positively towards creating a more just society in all aspects of the social order.
When translated into national and international criminal and civil legal systems, this justice requires that legal and juridical bodies put into place rules and institutions which seek to actualize these principles in a way which respect objective moral truth and place the human person at the centre of decision making. In this regard, the Rome Statute marked an important contribution to respect for the human person by recognizing that human rights are not limited by national borders, political position, religious background or cultural heritage but rather are inherent in every human person.
The promise of the Rome Statute ultimately lies in its ability to further refine the law of nations (ius gentium) in which universally recognized norms are superior to the laws of States and which requires accountability to the entire global community. However for this promise to bear fruit, States must continue to work to build trust between and amongst one another. Failure to build this trust ultimately will give rise to selective justice or retribution. To build this trust, States must respect the norm that agreements must be kept (pacta sunt servanda) as failure to fulfil commitments leads to greater mistrust between States by escalating blame and friction, ultimately undermining global peace and security.
Further, respect for the principle of subsidiarity allows States and communities to take action with accountability and provides for victims and affected communities participating in the judicial process for the sake of addressing the harm caused by gross violations of human rights, which fosters restoration and broader long-term peace. In this forum, this notion is addressed under the concept of complementarity, which recognizes that local national systems must be the primary source for holding individuals accountable. In so doing, we recognize that subsidiarity helps to restore local communities but also fosters trust between States as national governments retain the responsibility to hold perpetrators accountable.
During this Review Conference, States Parties are working to adopt an amendment which recognizes the Crime of Aggression and delineates jurisdiction by the Court over such crimes. This amendment seeks to institutionalize, in international juridical instruments, a principle which rejects war as a means for resolving disputes and seeks to replace the law of force with the force of law. In learning from the better tradition of peoples and nations engaging in peaceful discussion and creating agreements, this amendment builds upon the tragic lessons learned around the world that recourse to force, or even threat of force, has undermined global and personal security of individuals and nations. To this end, The Holy See has long been an advocate against wars of aggression and rejects the flawed logic of violence and destruction as factors for progress or political advancement.
In discussing this amendment it is imperative that efforts be made to balance the prevention of wars of aggression with the rights of nations to legitimate self-defence. This balance can only be achieved if the outcome of these discussions is an amendment which truly reflects the concerns and thoughts of the entire international community and which promotes the pursuit of justice rather than retribution. Efforts to create jurisdiction mechanisms that are governed by the political vote of majorities would replace military might with political might and would ultimately serve to harm trust between nations and undermine long-term peace and the long-term viability of multi-lateral legal bodies. Thus, these discussions must weigh these urgent concerns and make sure that these discussions are not motivated by a desire to seek greater political or military influence but rather by a genuine desire to promote a justice which protects human rights and fosters greater trust between nations.
While the efforts during these meetings to adopt and finalize the amendments to the Rome Statute are important, equally as important is the need to take stock of the work that has been accomplished since the adoption of the Rome Statute, especially in promoting peace and justice.
The Holy See has stated consistently that peace not only is possible but that peace is a duty which must be built upon the pillars of truth, justice, love and freedom. Law favours peace and, so, the two are intricately linked. Thus peace and justice are not in contradiction with one another but rather justice is a foundation for peace and just laws provide the means for fostering greater justice. In this context, justice must not be limited merely to the realm of "legal justice" but must also address the need for commutative, distributive and social justice.
For its part, the Holy See continues to call on all individuals within society to be peacemakers and to work towards justice. These efforts focus on the truth that every human person has inherent dignity and worth which must be respected regardless of racial, ethnic, religious, political or social distinction. The Holy See considers that, through teaching peace and justice, educational institutions can play an important role in fostering a social situation which sees our neighbours not as outsiders to be mistrusted and reviled but as fellow brothers and sisters to be respected and loved.
The Holy See welcomes this conference and it is our hope that it ultimately serves to promote respect for international justice, provides for better recognition of human rights and fosters greater trust between people and States.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Adopt a River or Forest for World Environment Day 2010
Nuala Brangan*
As we commemorate World environmental tomorrow, here is a reflection on the theme Adopt a River or Forest from the Association of sisterhood of Kenya
The time to commemorate World Environment Day (Sat), June 5 is here once again. The United Nations (UN) has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity and proposed the theme “Many Species, One Planet, One Future.” However considering Kenya’s environmental realities, we have chosen a sub-theme: “ADOPT a RIVER or FOREST”. This theme echoes the UN urgent call to preserve and conserve our environment upon which millions of people and millions of species depend.
When children are adopted, we understand that this means treating them as our very own. It means loving them, caring for them each day and becoming attentive to their needs, protecting them from harm and having dreams for their future even to the extent of sacrificing ourselves for them. This year, as we invite you to adopt a river or forest (or stream, mountain etc if none is close to you), we are asking you to lavish care and protection on it and the wonderful variety of life that it contains. It is an invitation therefore to be part of the countrywide efforts to protect and conserve the variety of life found within and around our rivers or forests. If we fail to act, it may soon be too late as scientists estimate that a species of life is being destroyed every day. This will, most likely, include working with others, and will entail the sacrifice of your time and energy to bring it back to its former glory.
The Passionist priest and famous environmentalist, Fr. Thomas Berry, calls us to look at spirituality (eco-spirituality) which engages not only our whole being but the whole universe itself. It is his belief, as well as a growing belief among theologians today, that as Religious we should be at the forefront of environment care because we are part of creation itself. This call is central to the teaching and example of Jesus; is echoed in the Old Testament, especially the psalms, and has also a central place in many of our own cultural beliefs.
We invite you to communicate news of World Environment Day to all the members of your community as well as to all your communities in Kenya, encouraging each other to celebrate WED through some activity. (The enclosed leaflet may give you some ideas but you may come up with better ways yourselves of celebrating.). We would be grateful for a brief report before July 30, 2010. However we encourage you to extend this activity to the whole year.
At this time when our politicians are in danger of dividing us along a Yes or No Referendum vote, may we be encouraged to gather together as Religious of all faiths to save our environment through peaceful environmental initiatives. We wish you God’s blessings on your daily effort of caring for our world.
*Nuala Brangan is a Loreto Sister and the AOSK-JP Commission, Coordinator in Kenya
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
As we commemorate World environmental tomorrow, here is a reflection on the theme Adopt a River or Forest from the Association of sisterhood of Kenya
The time to commemorate World Environment Day (Sat), June 5 is here once again. The United Nations (UN) has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity and proposed the theme “Many Species, One Planet, One Future.” However considering Kenya’s environmental realities, we have chosen a sub-theme: “ADOPT a RIVER or FOREST”. This theme echoes the UN urgent call to preserve and conserve our environment upon which millions of people and millions of species depend.
When children are adopted, we understand that this means treating them as our very own. It means loving them, caring for them each day and becoming attentive to their needs, protecting them from harm and having dreams for their future even to the extent of sacrificing ourselves for them. This year, as we invite you to adopt a river or forest (or stream, mountain etc if none is close to you), we are asking you to lavish care and protection on it and the wonderful variety of life that it contains. It is an invitation therefore to be part of the countrywide efforts to protect and conserve the variety of life found within and around our rivers or forests. If we fail to act, it may soon be too late as scientists estimate that a species of life is being destroyed every day. This will, most likely, include working with others, and will entail the sacrifice of your time and energy to bring it back to its former glory.
The Passionist priest and famous environmentalist, Fr. Thomas Berry, calls us to look at spirituality (eco-spirituality) which engages not only our whole being but the whole universe itself. It is his belief, as well as a growing belief among theologians today, that as Religious we should be at the forefront of environment care because we are part of creation itself. This call is central to the teaching and example of Jesus; is echoed in the Old Testament, especially the psalms, and has also a central place in many of our own cultural beliefs.
We invite you to communicate news of World Environment Day to all the members of your community as well as to all your communities in Kenya, encouraging each other to celebrate WED through some activity. (The enclosed leaflet may give you some ideas but you may come up with better ways yourselves of celebrating.). We would be grateful for a brief report before July 30, 2010. However we encourage you to extend this activity to the whole year.
At this time when our politicians are in danger of dividing us along a Yes or No Referendum vote, may we be encouraged to gather together as Religious of all faiths to save our environment through peaceful environmental initiatives. We wish you God’s blessings on your daily effort of caring for our world.
*Nuala Brangan is a Loreto Sister and the AOSK-JP Commission, Coordinator in Kenya
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Scientists Have «Created» Life: Very Good News for the Believer
Dominic Nkoyoyo*
Dr. Craig Venter an American scientist on 20th May this year announced to the world the mind blowing news has changed the history of humanity, namely: that the scientists of the Craig Venter Institute, have created the first ever living cell in a laboratory.
I believe and I think many will agree with me that this is so far the greatest scientific breakthrough in human history! Scientists have finally, after many years of research created life! So we who are living today and the future generations, we are in a new era: The Age of Synthentic Biology.
So what is our reaction and response to this new historical invention? Are we pleased with it, fearful, or angry and cursing it? Is it a hard pill for you to swallow? Does it shake your faith to its foundations or does it strengthen it all the more?
When Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) came up with his theory of Natural Selection or Evolution, many Christians of his time were not happy with him! Even today, many believers, especially, Christian fundamentalists do not want to hear of the theory of evolution! They even insist that it should not be taught in schools! For they feel it contradicts their faith, “that God created man and therefore he could not have evolved from apes as the theory holds!”
The Catholic Church is very positive bout the Darwinian theory of evolution and other evolutionary theories. The late Pope John Paul II, in the name of the Catholic Church acknowledged its value and importance. Hence on 23rd October, 1996 in his message entitled Truth cannot contradict truth to the members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences he said: “Today, more than a half a century after his encyclical Puis XII’s 1950 Encyclical Human Generis], new knowledge leads us to recognize in the theory of evolution more than a hypothesis.
So as Catholics we are well disposed and open to these scientific breakthroughs. And I find it very interesting that even the Bible itself has a special place of the Biological Sciences that deal with human life! For Sirach says: “Honour physicians for their services, for the Lord created them; for their gift of healing comes from the Most high…The skill of physicians makes them distinguished, and in the presence of the great they are admired. The Lord created medicines out of the earth and the sensible will not despise them.” (Sir.38:1-4). God gave us intelligence which we must use to unravel the truth underlying the material world and biological life.
And for me I am very pleased with this news of the creation of life by scientists. Because it confirms what I have believed all along: That behind all we see in this world there is a GREAT INTELLIGENCE at work! For behind the, synthetic cell, as the, living cell, created by the scientist is called, there is the natural intelligence of the scientists. For without the intelligence of these scientists, this, synthetic cell, could not have come into existence!
So we should all be happy, for the creation of life by scientists, proves the existence of the supernatural intelligence that created our own life. We did not come about by sheer chance! Even if it be true, that we evolved from apes, behind the whole process we ultimately have to arrive at: The Great Intelligence, Loving and Eternal, the Creator of all. So to the question, Is God the author of life? The answer remains: YES ultimately God is the Author of life.
That said, my congratulations to the great scientists: Craig Venter, Hamilton Smith, Clyde Hutchison and their colleagues whom God has use to advance our knowledge. Keep it up guys!
But does this new discovery pose any dangers? Of course the danger of misusing this knowledge and technology, for example, using it for biological weapons and also falling into the wrong hands is very real, but that is normal. We have the internet with its danger of exposing children to pornography and other dangers, but its advantages out weigh by far its disadvantages. So we shall handle the dangers of the new discovery as they come along, although we should start right away making provisions for that.
*Dominic Vincent Nkoyoyo is a monk at Monastery Val Notre-Dame, Canada.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
Dr. Craig Venter an American scientist on 20th May this year announced to the world the mind blowing news has changed the history of humanity, namely: that the scientists of the Craig Venter Institute, have created the first ever living cell in a laboratory.
I believe and I think many will agree with me that this is so far the greatest scientific breakthrough in human history! Scientists have finally, after many years of research created life! So we who are living today and the future generations, we are in a new era: The Age of Synthentic Biology.
So what is our reaction and response to this new historical invention? Are we pleased with it, fearful, or angry and cursing it? Is it a hard pill for you to swallow? Does it shake your faith to its foundations or does it strengthen it all the more?
When Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) came up with his theory of Natural Selection or Evolution, many Christians of his time were not happy with him! Even today, many believers, especially, Christian fundamentalists do not want to hear of the theory of evolution! They even insist that it should not be taught in schools! For they feel it contradicts their faith, “that God created man and therefore he could not have evolved from apes as the theory holds!”
The Catholic Church is very positive bout the Darwinian theory of evolution and other evolutionary theories. The late Pope John Paul II, in the name of the Catholic Church acknowledged its value and importance. Hence on 23rd October, 1996 in his message entitled Truth cannot contradict truth to the members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences he said: “Today, more than a half a century after his encyclical Puis XII’s 1950 Encyclical Human Generis], new knowledge leads us to recognize in the theory of evolution more than a hypothesis.
So as Catholics we are well disposed and open to these scientific breakthroughs. And I find it very interesting that even the Bible itself has a special place of the Biological Sciences that deal with human life! For Sirach says: “Honour physicians for their services, for the Lord created them; for their gift of healing comes from the Most high…The skill of physicians makes them distinguished, and in the presence of the great they are admired. The Lord created medicines out of the earth and the sensible will not despise them.” (Sir.38:1-4). God gave us intelligence which we must use to unravel the truth underlying the material world and biological life.
And for me I am very pleased with this news of the creation of life by scientists. Because it confirms what I have believed all along: That behind all we see in this world there is a GREAT INTELLIGENCE at work! For behind the, synthetic cell, as the, living cell, created by the scientist is called, there is the natural intelligence of the scientists. For without the intelligence of these scientists, this, synthetic cell, could not have come into existence!
So we should all be happy, for the creation of life by scientists, proves the existence of the supernatural intelligence that created our own life. We did not come about by sheer chance! Even if it be true, that we evolved from apes, behind the whole process we ultimately have to arrive at: The Great Intelligence, Loving and Eternal, the Creator of all. So to the question, Is God the author of life? The answer remains: YES ultimately God is the Author of life.
That said, my congratulations to the great scientists: Craig Venter, Hamilton Smith, Clyde Hutchison and their colleagues whom God has use to advance our knowledge. Keep it up guys!
But does this new discovery pose any dangers? Of course the danger of misusing this knowledge and technology, for example, using it for biological weapons and also falling into the wrong hands is very real, but that is normal. We have the internet with its danger of exposing children to pornography and other dangers, but its advantages out weigh by far its disadvantages. So we shall handle the dangers of the new discovery as they come along, although we should start right away making provisions for that.
*Dominic Vincent Nkoyoyo is a monk at Monastery Val Notre-Dame, Canada.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Build One Nation, One Country Kenya
Bishop Cornelius Kipng’eno Arap Korir*
In the background the ongoing campaigns on the Draft Constitution and the acrimony that has been churned up in the campaigns for and against the draft, Bishop Cornelius Korir reflect with the politicians on the need to build one nation, one country.
The following is the text of his address at the Annual National prayer breakfast meeting of Kenyan MPs.
To belong to a tribe is a gift from God. Tribes serve to build the family of God into different Nations in all the earth. This gift of tribe is for enriching with its cultures, customs and religion the gifts of all other tribes. Out of all together God’s desire is to make all into a unity, into one united family, God’s family. Jn 17:21 – “May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you, so that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.”
In this case, each member of a group or tribe is called upon to look at the others as sons and daughters of one Father who is the creator of Heaven and Earth and the founder of every Nation.
The words of our National Anthem invite us to acknowledge this fact, God bless our Nation, Kenya. That is: Bless us to be united.
The people’s response to this invitation is by way of LOVE. Love of God and neighbour.
God created us in His image (Gen 2:27). We are His image. Listen to what the Lord says to Cain after killing his brother Abel. (Gen 4:10) – “Why have you done this terrible thing? Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge.” But in fact God discouraged revenge; God forbade revenge as the way forward, as the way to deal with Cain. He warned people not to kill Cain, not to revenge Abel’s death by further killing.
For the Christians you are familiar with the words of Jesus – First in the Book of Mat 25: 35-39 - For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me. Then the upright will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you? And the King will answer, in truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
When the dignity of any human being is demeaned by neglect, by involuntary nakedness, by serious hunger, by sickness or disease, by imprisonment, God Himself ‘feels’ the pain and the disgrace of it. Whatever you do to your brother you do to me.
And on the other hand, whatever good we do, whatever help we give to another human being of whatever family or tribe or nation or race, God takes it as good done to Himself, as help given to Himself. God sees a mysterious identity between Himself and ALL human beings, and He sees a mysterious identity between human beings themselves without distinction. God our creator sees us all as His children, as His sons and daughters.
Secondly, in the Book of Acts 9:4-5: Jesus asks Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?” Paul was in charge of killing the followers of Jesus.
The above description invites us to reflect on our relationship in this one Nation, Kenya. As leaders, plan policies that can give food, treat the sick and provide other needs of the people. And the more we respect the true dignity and worth of every human being in the eyes of God, the more surely will we reduce divisive, antagonistic tribalism, which I now want to speak of:
Going back – primitive tribe
All things measured by what belong to our people, enhanced by customs and cultures.
The security is part of life – the unity of the tribe can give security but it can also be an abuse setting tribe against tribe.
Building one tribe through many ways and activities known to them.
After independence, there was the struggle to break the tribal barriers through Education, Development, Religion and Politics and the struggle is not over. It needs to be reviewed and renewed and intensified.
The way we have practiced politics has allowed the negative aspects of ethnicity to develop by reviving the old aspirations of the tribe.
I am not a politician. I am looking at it as a citizen of Kenya and having been involved in the peace building work.
a) The tribal grouping of political parties has contributed to the tension in the country.
b) The issues of injustices before and after independence have not been addressed and still affect relationships seriously.
c) The clashes we have faced in this country over issues of politics and power and tribe and land and wealth 1992 to 1997 and 2007/2008 have left a legacy of distrust and bitterness and difficulty of reconciliation.
d) Year 2002 was different in that the politics had changed and a kind of popular movement emerged for the first time.
e) The clashes have developed in another direction which is not good for the country. It is a direction of violence breaking the unity of the country. This has to be changed in a peaceful way.
f) The destruction of property and losses of life increases every year of election. The highest number of loss of life was in 2008. The enmity among the peoples went so deep into their hearts that forgiveness and reconciliation was very difficult. If we are talking of one nation, one people, the political style of this country has to change. That our political parties have to serve the Nation, not the tribe or the party.
g) I call upon the parties to put the country Kenya first – the whole Kenya not part of it. All religions have also to work together to build one Nation.
In the violence of 1992, 1997 and 2008, I witnessed the sufferings of our people, loss of life, destruction of property e.t.c.
• I have walked with the people several kilometers away struggling to save their lives.
• I have hosted thousands of people in the church compound, Seminary and schools.
• When the clash victims arrived, I provided them with shelter and food before the donors came to assist them.
• Lastly, I have risked my life many times.
My motto is always, All peoples are brothers and sisters. My belief is that when I see a person, I see an image of God. Don’t kill.
Negativity
• Negativity is not from God, it is from the people themselves - from the heart of the people.
• Religion has to play a major role in the society.
• The fear among the tribes.
• Displacement dates back before independence - Correct anomalies
• Equal distribution of justice for all peoples.
• Peace building from all levels such as village communities, youth, students in schools (primary, secondary, universities) e.t.c.
• And a very important priority at this time: Do not let us have bitter, untruthful, violent Referendum or General Election campaigns. That would be to go against God and to do further serious damage to all our peoples and to the nation.
I will end with a few quotes from our first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. I don’t have the exact date of the quotes.
“Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell upon the bitterness of the past. I would rather look to the future, to the good new Kenya, not to the bad old days. If we can create this sense of national direction and identity, we shall have gone a long way to solving our economic problems.”
“You and I must work together to develop our country, to get education for our children, to have doctors, to build roads, to improve or provide all day-to-day essentials.” Jomo Kenyatta, first President of Kenya, from an Independence Day message to the people.
God bless our Land and Nation.
*Cornelius Kipng’eno Arap Korir is the current Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, in Kenya.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
In the background the ongoing campaigns on the Draft Constitution and the acrimony that has been churned up in the campaigns for and against the draft, Bishop Cornelius Korir reflect with the politicians on the need to build one nation, one country.
The following is the text of his address at the Annual National prayer breakfast meeting of Kenyan MPs.
To belong to a tribe is a gift from God. Tribes serve to build the family of God into different Nations in all the earth. This gift of tribe is for enriching with its cultures, customs and religion the gifts of all other tribes. Out of all together God’s desire is to make all into a unity, into one united family, God’s family. Jn 17:21 – “May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you, so that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.”
In this case, each member of a group or tribe is called upon to look at the others as sons and daughters of one Father who is the creator of Heaven and Earth and the founder of every Nation.
The words of our National Anthem invite us to acknowledge this fact, God bless our Nation, Kenya. That is: Bless us to be united.
The people’s response to this invitation is by way of LOVE. Love of God and neighbour.
God created us in His image (Gen 2:27). We are His image. Listen to what the Lord says to Cain after killing his brother Abel. (Gen 4:10) – “Why have you done this terrible thing? Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge.” But in fact God discouraged revenge; God forbade revenge as the way forward, as the way to deal with Cain. He warned people not to kill Cain, not to revenge Abel’s death by further killing.
For the Christians you are familiar with the words of Jesus – First in the Book of Mat 25: 35-39 - For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me. Then the upright will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you? And the King will answer, in truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
When the dignity of any human being is demeaned by neglect, by involuntary nakedness, by serious hunger, by sickness or disease, by imprisonment, God Himself ‘feels’ the pain and the disgrace of it. Whatever you do to your brother you do to me.
And on the other hand, whatever good we do, whatever help we give to another human being of whatever family or tribe or nation or race, God takes it as good done to Himself, as help given to Himself. God sees a mysterious identity between Himself and ALL human beings, and He sees a mysterious identity between human beings themselves without distinction. God our creator sees us all as His children, as His sons and daughters.
Secondly, in the Book of Acts 9:4-5: Jesus asks Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?” Paul was in charge of killing the followers of Jesus.
The above description invites us to reflect on our relationship in this one Nation, Kenya. As leaders, plan policies that can give food, treat the sick and provide other needs of the people. And the more we respect the true dignity and worth of every human being in the eyes of God, the more surely will we reduce divisive, antagonistic tribalism, which I now want to speak of:
Going back – primitive tribe
All things measured by what belong to our people, enhanced by customs and cultures.
The security is part of life – the unity of the tribe can give security but it can also be an abuse setting tribe against tribe.
Building one tribe through many ways and activities known to them.
After independence, there was the struggle to break the tribal barriers through Education, Development, Religion and Politics and the struggle is not over. It needs to be reviewed and renewed and intensified.
The way we have practiced politics has allowed the negative aspects of ethnicity to develop by reviving the old aspirations of the tribe.
I am not a politician. I am looking at it as a citizen of Kenya and having been involved in the peace building work.
a) The tribal grouping of political parties has contributed to the tension in the country.
b) The issues of injustices before and after independence have not been addressed and still affect relationships seriously.
c) The clashes we have faced in this country over issues of politics and power and tribe and land and wealth 1992 to 1997 and 2007/2008 have left a legacy of distrust and bitterness and difficulty of reconciliation.
d) Year 2002 was different in that the politics had changed and a kind of popular movement emerged for the first time.
e) The clashes have developed in another direction which is not good for the country. It is a direction of violence breaking the unity of the country. This has to be changed in a peaceful way.
f) The destruction of property and losses of life increases every year of election. The highest number of loss of life was in 2008. The enmity among the peoples went so deep into their hearts that forgiveness and reconciliation was very difficult. If we are talking of one nation, one people, the political style of this country has to change. That our political parties have to serve the Nation, not the tribe or the party.
g) I call upon the parties to put the country Kenya first – the whole Kenya not part of it. All religions have also to work together to build one Nation.
In the violence of 1992, 1997 and 2008, I witnessed the sufferings of our people, loss of life, destruction of property e.t.c.
• I have walked with the people several kilometers away struggling to save their lives.
• I have hosted thousands of people in the church compound, Seminary and schools.
• When the clash victims arrived, I provided them with shelter and food before the donors came to assist them.
• Lastly, I have risked my life many times.
My motto is always, All peoples are brothers and sisters. My belief is that when I see a person, I see an image of God. Don’t kill.
Negativity
• Negativity is not from God, it is from the people themselves - from the heart of the people.
• Religion has to play a major role in the society.
• The fear among the tribes.
• Displacement dates back before independence - Correct anomalies
• Equal distribution of justice for all peoples.
• Peace building from all levels such as village communities, youth, students in schools (primary, secondary, universities) e.t.c.
• And a very important priority at this time: Do not let us have bitter, untruthful, violent Referendum or General Election campaigns. That would be to go against God and to do further serious damage to all our peoples and to the nation.
I will end with a few quotes from our first President, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. I don’t have the exact date of the quotes.
“Where there has been racial hatred, it must be ended. Where there has been tribal animosity, it will be finished. Let us not dwell upon the bitterness of the past. I would rather look to the future, to the good new Kenya, not to the bad old days. If we can create this sense of national direction and identity, we shall have gone a long way to solving our economic problems.”
“You and I must work together to develop our country, to get education for our children, to have doctors, to build roads, to improve or provide all day-to-day essentials.” Jomo Kenyatta, first President of Kenya, from an Independence Day message to the people.
God bless our Land and Nation.
*Cornelius Kipng’eno Arap Korir is the current Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, in Kenya.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
“Time has Run Out”
Dominic Nkoyoyo*
I admire the courage of Fr. Gabriel Dolan. And I believe that his references to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching at this point in time are very important and helpful to God's people in Kenya who find themselves in a difficult position relative to the Proposed Constitution. For the time has run out to make any amendments to the proposed constitution and very soon it must be voted in or out.
Fr. Gabriel Dolan and Retired Anglican Archbishop David Gitari (see CISA Issue N° 038, Tuesday, April 2010) are of the same mind. And so hold similar position on the Proposed Constitution, namely: that it is wise to vote «YES» for the Proposed Constitution come the referendum on 4th August this year. Both are pro-life, and so am I. Fr Dolan warns that we should not throw the baby out with bath water. And Archbishop Gitari advises that we are faced with two evils and therefore we should go for a lesser one.
In the Proposed Constitution there is a healthy baby weighing 5Kg! That is, all the good things in it. But there is also very dirty water, namely: the possibility it opens for enacting in the future laws legalising abortion implied in Article 26(4).
So what should God's people in Kenya do in such a complicated situation?
I do agree that if the Proposed Constitution sails through the referendum and becomes the Supreme Law of the land, it will be very difficult to make amendments. But we can at least be consoled that, being very difficult, does not mean being impossible. So a fierce battle could be launched afterwards to amend the problematic Article 26(4).
Now that the time has run out to make any amendments, I think the practical thing to do is to take the advice of Archbishop Gitari and Fr. Gabriel and go for the lesser evil.It is indeed a very sad situation to have to choose between two evils but this is where we find ourselves.
Leaving Article 26(4) in the Proposed Constitution and voting YES is in my opinion the lesser evil. The greater evil is to go to the 2012 polls without a new and better Constitution. And practically, this is what it means if the Proposed Constitution is rejected. For the process will be pushed back to square one by opposing forces! And then more time and more money will be needed to restart the process! But as many people have remarked that the Proposed Constitution is much better than the existing Constitution, I think we should go for it. The dangers of voting in 2012 with the existing Constitution are beyond count and will be regrettable.
Although a new Constitution too, does not guarantee that the 2012 general election will be peaceful, the people of Kenya will be consoled to know that at least they tried to do something to avoid a repeat of the 2007-2008 post election violence that nearly destroyed the country.
So while the struggle for getting a new Constitution goes on, I request all the people in Kenya, citizens and foreigners, to keep praying for peace and reconciliation in this country.
*Fr. Dominic Vincent Nkoyoyo is a Cistercian Monk at the Monastery Val Notre-Dame in Canada.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
I admire the courage of Fr. Gabriel Dolan. And I believe that his references to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching at this point in time are very important and helpful to God's people in Kenya who find themselves in a difficult position relative to the Proposed Constitution. For the time has run out to make any amendments to the proposed constitution and very soon it must be voted in or out.
Fr. Gabriel Dolan and Retired Anglican Archbishop David Gitari (see CISA Issue N° 038, Tuesday, April 2010) are of the same mind. And so hold similar position on the Proposed Constitution, namely: that it is wise to vote «YES» for the Proposed Constitution come the referendum on 4th August this year. Both are pro-life, and so am I. Fr Dolan warns that we should not throw the baby out with bath water. And Archbishop Gitari advises that we are faced with two evils and therefore we should go for a lesser one.
In the Proposed Constitution there is a healthy baby weighing 5Kg! That is, all the good things in it. But there is also very dirty water, namely: the possibility it opens for enacting in the future laws legalising abortion implied in Article 26(4).
So what should God's people in Kenya do in such a complicated situation?
I do agree that if the Proposed Constitution sails through the referendum and becomes the Supreme Law of the land, it will be very difficult to make amendments. But we can at least be consoled that, being very difficult, does not mean being impossible. So a fierce battle could be launched afterwards to amend the problematic Article 26(4).
Now that the time has run out to make any amendments, I think the practical thing to do is to take the advice of Archbishop Gitari and Fr. Gabriel and go for the lesser evil.It is indeed a very sad situation to have to choose between two evils but this is where we find ourselves.
Leaving Article 26(4) in the Proposed Constitution and voting YES is in my opinion the lesser evil. The greater evil is to go to the 2012 polls without a new and better Constitution. And practically, this is what it means if the Proposed Constitution is rejected. For the process will be pushed back to square one by opposing forces! And then more time and more money will be needed to restart the process! But as many people have remarked that the Proposed Constitution is much better than the existing Constitution, I think we should go for it. The dangers of voting in 2012 with the existing Constitution are beyond count and will be regrettable.
Although a new Constitution too, does not guarantee that the 2012 general election will be peaceful, the people of Kenya will be consoled to know that at least they tried to do something to avoid a repeat of the 2007-2008 post election violence that nearly destroyed the country.
So while the struggle for getting a new Constitution goes on, I request all the people in Kenya, citizens and foreigners, to keep praying for peace and reconciliation in this country.
*Fr. Dominic Vincent Nkoyoyo is a Cistercian Monk at the Monastery Val Notre-Dame in Canada.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
Draft is Pro-life, Pro-poor and can Bring Social Justice
Gabriel Dolan*
Church leaders have both a right and duty to share with their flock their concerns over issues of national importance. We may not always agree with their sentiments but we must defend their right to be heard and also respect the sincerity of their views.
However, what was disturbing about the recent statement from the Catholic Bishops was their request to the President to delete Article 26(4) from the Proposed Constitution by way of an ‘executive order.’ Put another way, they were asking the two principals to break the law, disregarding parliament and the Kenyan public.
Such contempt for the rule of law was what prompted demands for a constitutional overhaul in the first place. Kenya is not a theocracy but a democracy and church leaders are not legislators but teachers and messengers of the Gospel.
Indeed, the faithful feel let down by their religious leaders who appear to be completely out of touch with the deep yearnings of the Kenyan public for a more humane and dignified existence. I am not being dismissive of their views, but I fail to see the wisdom of calling on Kenyans to reject the draft if sections on Kadhi’s courts and abortion are not removed.
Would this not be a classic example of throwing the baby out with the bath water, if you pardon the crude analogy in these circumstances! Worse still the ‘bath water’ will find its way back home by way of the Penal Code and the current constitution.
Giving guidance on the proposed constitution requires that we see the big picture and are familiar with the complete document. For Christians, the ultimate question is whether this draft is good news for the poor; whether it has the potential to set the downtrodden free; give liberation to the captives and proclaim a new era for the Kenyan nation. That is what the man from Nazareth identified as his mission. It remains the foundation of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) up until today. The Bishops made no reference to this tradition in their instructions.
As I stated in the March 27th column, I am pro-life myself, but my concern goes beyond the womb and continues right up to the tomb. I am not just concerned with the welfare of the unborn, but about the quality of life after birth. Jesus himself after all said ‘I came that you may have life and have in its fullness’ (John 10:10).
Catholic teaching states that ‘opposition to abortion does not excuse indifference to those who suffer from poverty, violence and injustice’. If compassion is the basis of our faith, then people of God must be moved by the poverty, deprivation and inequality that have characterised this country since independence.
The principles of CST that should form the basis of our social conscience are: the dignity of the person, option for the poor, solidarity, social justice and the common good. When we make an option for the poor we are stating that the needs of the poor take priority over the desires and interests of the rich and ‘the poor have the single most urgent economic claim of the conscience of the nation’.
The Chapters on the Bill of Rights and Land offer great hope that the economic claims of the poor may be addressed. Indeed the Land Chapter is practically a replica of the Land Policy that was approved in Parliament on December 3rd last year.
A rejection of the proposed constitution is a vote for the interests of the rich in this country. The proposed constitution is a pro-poor and pro-life document. Is it any wonder then that those who benefited most from the plunder of our country have branded it ‘socialist,’ in the same way that those who opposed Barrack Obama’s pro-poor health care plan dismissed him as a ‘socialist’?
This draft is not a panacea for all our ills, but it has the potential to promote the common good of the nation as opposed to serving the good of rulers or any economic, religious or social class. It provides us with an opportunity to correct past injustices, redistribute the wealth of the nation and promote the dignity and value of each Kenyan.
The document has been published, let us read it carefully and judge for ourselves whether it offers hope to the poor, a future for the marginalised and could be the springboard for a new era for all. In other words let us vote with an informed conscience.
*Fr Gabriel Dolan, St. Patrick’s Missionary, Archdiocese of Mombasa
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
Church leaders have both a right and duty to share with their flock their concerns over issues of national importance. We may not always agree with their sentiments but we must defend their right to be heard and also respect the sincerity of their views.
However, what was disturbing about the recent statement from the Catholic Bishops was their request to the President to delete Article 26(4) from the Proposed Constitution by way of an ‘executive order.’ Put another way, they were asking the two principals to break the law, disregarding parliament and the Kenyan public.
Such contempt for the rule of law was what prompted demands for a constitutional overhaul in the first place. Kenya is not a theocracy but a democracy and church leaders are not legislators but teachers and messengers of the Gospel.
Indeed, the faithful feel let down by their religious leaders who appear to be completely out of touch with the deep yearnings of the Kenyan public for a more humane and dignified existence. I am not being dismissive of their views, but I fail to see the wisdom of calling on Kenyans to reject the draft if sections on Kadhi’s courts and abortion are not removed.
Would this not be a classic example of throwing the baby out with the bath water, if you pardon the crude analogy in these circumstances! Worse still the ‘bath water’ will find its way back home by way of the Penal Code and the current constitution.
Giving guidance on the proposed constitution requires that we see the big picture and are familiar with the complete document. For Christians, the ultimate question is whether this draft is good news for the poor; whether it has the potential to set the downtrodden free; give liberation to the captives and proclaim a new era for the Kenyan nation. That is what the man from Nazareth identified as his mission. It remains the foundation of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) up until today. The Bishops made no reference to this tradition in their instructions.
As I stated in the March 27th column, I am pro-life myself, but my concern goes beyond the womb and continues right up to the tomb. I am not just concerned with the welfare of the unborn, but about the quality of life after birth. Jesus himself after all said ‘I came that you may have life and have in its fullness’ (John 10:10).
Catholic teaching states that ‘opposition to abortion does not excuse indifference to those who suffer from poverty, violence and injustice’. If compassion is the basis of our faith, then people of God must be moved by the poverty, deprivation and inequality that have characterised this country since independence.
The principles of CST that should form the basis of our social conscience are: the dignity of the person, option for the poor, solidarity, social justice and the common good. When we make an option for the poor we are stating that the needs of the poor take priority over the desires and interests of the rich and ‘the poor have the single most urgent economic claim of the conscience of the nation’.
The Chapters on the Bill of Rights and Land offer great hope that the economic claims of the poor may be addressed. Indeed the Land Chapter is practically a replica of the Land Policy that was approved in Parliament on December 3rd last year.
A rejection of the proposed constitution is a vote for the interests of the rich in this country. The proposed constitution is a pro-poor and pro-life document. Is it any wonder then that those who benefited most from the plunder of our country have branded it ‘socialist,’ in the same way that those who opposed Barrack Obama’s pro-poor health care plan dismissed him as a ‘socialist’?
This draft is not a panacea for all our ills, but it has the potential to promote the common good of the nation as opposed to serving the good of rulers or any economic, religious or social class. It provides us with an opportunity to correct past injustices, redistribute the wealth of the nation and promote the dignity and value of each Kenyan.
The document has been published, let us read it carefully and judge for ourselves whether it offers hope to the poor, a future for the marginalised and could be the springboard for a new era for all. In other words let us vote with an informed conscience.
*Fr Gabriel Dolan, St. Patrick’s Missionary, Archdiocese of Mombasa
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this section do not necessarily represent the opinions of CISA.
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