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Kenya: Intervention of the Religious Superiors Conference Print E-mail
Contributed by Religious Superiors Conference of Kenya   
Wednesday, 02 January 2008
To the Chairman and Members of the Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC). Please accept our kind and cordial greetings.
Especially in the light of the events following the announcement of the recent Election Results, we believe that the Religious Superiors Conference of Kenya (RSCK), with the Bishops of Kenya, have a responsibility to be critically objective, above and beyond allegiance to ethnic or party politics in this country. At this historical juncture for the Kenyan Nation, following the recent Election Process, we consider these issues to need critical and urgent attention.

1. The evident advancement in the quality and involvement of the Kenyan People in the Democratic Electoral process was very positive up to the point of collecting, counting and announcing results. There are serious moral and legal questions to be answered by officers and bodies responsible for these three tasks.
2. The furthering intensity, deepening and politicization of Ethnic divisions and hatred in the Country has to be addressed. The loss of life and violence, in the last few days, have reached new unacceptable heights. Our convictions and actions have to be based on Justice, Truth and Peace. This is vital in order to prevent this beloved nation falling further into chaos and moving towards the ethnic hatreds and terrible deeds evidenced in other international regions such as Rwanda and Kosova.

3. There is an urgent need for the political and religious leaders to honestly evaluate their own role during this crisis time in terms not only of their vision and leadership, but also in regards to solidarity with the people who feel abandoned, deserted, confused, afraid and isolated.
We would recommend that the KEC should advocate the creation of an independent arbitration forum/body to be established, of an international nature, that is accepted by all parties, in order to find a resolution to the present political crisis in Kenya. This forum/body should also propose future electoral methodologies/commissions, to be independent of political interference from parties involved in the Kenya Electoral Process.

Ultimately this country needs peace and reconciliation based on Justice, for a people, who have endured far too much pain. The people need to hear a message of hope and support from the religious leaders of this country. We do realize that these points have been well spelt out in the Encyclical, 'Spes Salvi'; “the only way forward for the present is a hope that is rooted in God alone”.

On behalf of the Religious Superiors Conference of Kenya,
Yours sincerely,

Rev. Fr. Patrick Devine SMA
Chairman of RSCK
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 January 2008 )