Give Kenyans a Peaceful Election – Coast Regional Conference
June 22, 2021
Give Kenyans a Peaceful Election
Press Statement
The delegates of the member churches and organisations in NCCK Coast Region, which comprises of Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River, Taita Tavela and Kwale counties, have convened here at Pwani University for a two-day Regional Conference. The Regional Conference is the highest decision making governance of the NCCK at the regional level, and was guided by the theme “Wholesome Youth for a Wholesome Society (1 Timothy 4: 12)”.
Don’t let anyone look down you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
We have re-appreciated the great benefit that the youth in Kenya, who make up 70 per cent of our national population, have to offer. As a nation, we however must stop looking down on the youth and accord them opportunities to influence and impact the society. In this regard, we share the following recommendations.
1. Address The Land Issue
This Regional Conference regrets that the term of the 12th Parliament is ending yet the land issue in Coast Region has not been resolved. The residents of our counties continue to experience a high level of real and perceived injustice due to incomplete land adjudication. A high population of the indigenous residents have been reduced to squatters, which condemns them to perpetual poverty.
We call upon the Members of Parliament, Senators, County Governors and Members of County Assemblies in our counties to fulfil the promises they made in 2017 by ensuring just and equitable land adjudication is completed soonest possible.
We remind all that the land issue has been used to incite tension and violence in the past, and is currently the main driver of radicalisation of the youth into violent groups and gangs. Let us safeguard our youth by addressing this land issue once for all.
2. Structure a People-Oriented Economy
We in this Regional Conference have noted that the national economy seems to be deliberately designed to impoverish the people. We have especially noted the following characteristics:
- An unmanageable national debt which cannot be serviced in a sustainable manner
- A ballooning public expenditure budget which is pushing the government to increase taxes, thereby driving more people into poverty due to rise in cost of living
- Growing level of unemployment which has pushed many youths into criminal groups and delinquent behaviours
- Collapse of the tourism industry at the Coast yet alternative livelihoods have not been provided
- Massive reduction in amount of expendable income by families, leading to reduced allocation of funds for food, clothing, shelter, healthcare and education
These conditions have given rise to a very high sense of hopelessness among the citizens, and urgent measures are required so that we have a national economy that empowers the people and eradicates poverty. Towards this, we recommend:
- Reduce taxes especially those levied on small scale businesses
- Prioritize provision of adequate staff, diagnostic equipment and medicine in public health facilities for the welfare of the citizens
- The Kenya Wildlife Services should effectively engage the communities to find lasting solutions to the human-wildlife conflicts
- Prioritize transport infrastructure in the counties, and we especially remind the Kenya National Highways Authority to ensure speedy completion of the Garsen – Garissa Road
- Provide adequate support and systems to promote productivity, value addition and marketing of primary outputs of our counties especially coconuts and cashew nuts
3. Empower the Youth for Leadership
We in this Regional Conference have recognized that youth have largely been left out of leadership and decision making, which has nurtured in them a very high vulnerability to political incitement and elite manipulation. As a society, we must take measures to protect the youth by empowering them economically and politically.
Towards this, we advise all Kenyans to take note of individuals and political formations that incite violence or hire militia groups and refuse to vote for them in future elections. Anyone who uses force to impose himself or herself on the community should be rejected by all.
We also advise our youth to deliberately refuse to engage in violence before, during or after the elections. Always remember that those who give you money to engage in violence will use you and dump you, and the few coins they give you will not benefit you. Those who use you will enjoy power and wealth that they will never share with you. Refuse to be used.
Instead, we encourage you to push yourselves to assume decision making positions in political parties. Also push to have youthful aspirants nominated as candidates in areas where your political parties are strong. Always remember that leadership positions will not be given to you on a silver platter, so position yourselves in political parties and push to get into leadership.
On our part, we will together with other partners organize forums where the youth will develop memorandums of what they would like to find in the manifestos of political parties and aspirants. We hope to empower the youths to identify their needs as well as viable solutions so that they are not fixated on handouts from politicians.
4. Provide Security for All
We in this Regional Conference are concerned about the high level of insecurity in our counties. There is a notable increase in the number of violent gangs, and the sale of illicit drugs is rampant, which could imply a level of laxity on the part of the security agencies. We recommend that the government enhances efforts to demystify and expand community ownership and involvement in security. It is especially essential that the security organs involve church leaders in security committees and structures at Ward, Sub County and County levels.
5. Prepare for Peaceful and Credible General Elections 2022
We in this Regional Conference have appreciated that different state and non state institutions have commenced preparations for the 2022 General Elections. We reiterate that the elections should be held as constitutionally scheduled, and any attempts to change the date must be resisted by all. The Constitution should not be tampered with at a whim to satisfy political interests.
As the nation prepares for the Elections, we recall the trauma of elections related violence that our people have experienced in the past. We do not wish to go through a similar experience again. For this reason, we deplore the emerging trend where political actors are inciting strife between the rich and the poor, as well as engaging in ethnicity and religion-based political mobilisation. If this trend is not stopped now, the 2022 General Elections will most likely be violent and chaotic.
We now call upon the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the National Steering Committee on Peace-building and Conflict Management, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the National Police Service, and all other concerned stakeholders to partner with the church to promote cohesion and peace. We should not wait until the community members are radicalized before we take action.
Further, we call for an end of the trend of coronation of individuals on ethnic or religious shrines. These events are harmful to cohesion in the region and the nation.
6. Safeguard the Pulpit
Further to this, we have called to mind the word of God recorded in Acts 20: 28
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
As faith leaders, we have an obligation to provide spiritual nurture to all people who come to our places of worship, regardless of their status in society or political alignment. To achieve this, we have committed ourselves to safeguard the pulpit by not allowing politicians and aspirants to campaign to congregations during worship services. For this reason, we will avoid asking for donations from the politicians and aspirants so that they don’t claim the right to address the congregations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we reiterate that the youth are one of the greatest resources our nation has. This youth bulge can however become a curse if we fail to put in place structures and platforms for them to be involved in leadership and decision making processes. It is essential that the church and other places of worship, political parties and governance organs embrace mentorship to equip the youth with hope and opportunities for leadership. Let us always remember the words of our elder brother, Apostle John, as he wrote in 1 John 2: 14
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
May God bless our nation and give us wisdom to give the youth a chance to overcome evil on behalf of all of us.
Signed on this 22nd day of June 2021 at Pwani University, Kilifi.
Bishop Dr Peter Mwero
Chairman, NCCK Coast Region
