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The press statement was read out by NCCK Machakos County Chairman, Bishop Festus Malua, on behalf of the Regional Chairman, Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki.
“We closely follow the active engagement of Kenyans on the 2024 Finance Bill and we call on the executive and parliament to listen to the people. Considering this is not Kenya’s first Finance Bill, why is it the first bill that has caused such strong resentment and despair across the country?” Malua posed.
He said all elected leaders must always keep in mind God’s warning in Isaiah 10:1-3.
Woe to you who make unjust laws, who issue oppressive decrees, who deprive the poor of their rights and deny justice to the oppressed among my people, who prey on widows and rob orphans. What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from a far country?
Maroua added: “If the voice of the people is not listened to, the country risks falling into an uncontrollable social crisis.”
The preachers said Kenyans should be allowed to picket.
They said Article 37 gave every Kenyan the “right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and petition public authorities peacefully and unarmedly”.
“We are therefore deeply concerned about the excessive use of force by security personnel during demonstrations across the country this week. Today, we join all Kenyans in mourning the young man who was shot and killed.
We also pray for the speedy recovery of the more than 200 young people injured in the clashes and the six young people who are nursing gunshot wounds. We also pray for the police officers injured in the tear gas explosions,” Maroua said.
They questioned why such force was used, when the young men had been peaceful all day.
Maroua said that using such violent means to obstruct peaceful demonstrations would radicalize young people and lead them to violent behavior.
“We call on the Independent Police Oversight Authority (Ipoa) to quickly identify all officers involved and take appropriate action. On the other hand, we call on all Kenyans, especially the youths to continue to exercise restraint and convey their complaints and suggestions in a peaceful manner,” the pastor said.
“Let each of us stand up and do our part to build a country where every Kenyan can live a productive and dignified life, as described in Micah Chapter 4 Verse 4: ‘And each one shall sit under his vine and fig tree, and no one shall make him afraid,’” Marua said.
During the orientation, the 35 leaders learned about the history, constitution, governance structure, policies and programs of NCCK.
Additionally, officials considered the conditions of the counties in the region as well as the country and were inspired by the scripture recorded in Jeremiah 29:11.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
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