The head of the Anglican Church in Kenya, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, has expressed his concern at the political atmosphere in the run up to the referendum in November on Kenya’s draft constitution.
Archbishop Nzimbi said the referendum campaigns had been turned into a political supremacy contest between certain politicians and tribes.
He also warned that the campaigns were being dominated by “too much violence and too much noise” and not conducive to civic education.
The political climate in Kenya is becoming increasingly tumultuous as Yes and No campaigners vie head to head for voters’ support. A “No” rally near Nairobi ended in blood and violence when it was stormed by “Yes” voters who proceeded to beat the crowds with chairs and sticks, the latest in a long line of riots that have now broken out in the run up to the referendum.
Archbishop Nzimbi questioned whether any meaningful dialogue on the draft constitution was happening anymore at celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the Church’s Christian Community Services on Sunday.
“What we are witnessing instead are other political schemes, which are dangerously dividing this country,” warned the primate.
The Archbishop urged leaders and citizens, including President Mwai Kibaki and several cabinet ministers in attendance at the celebrations, to be responsible in what they say and to always speak the truth.
“We call for tolerance, restraint and peaceful co-existence as the civic education continues,” he said.
Rev Nzimbi said that the ACK’s position had not changed since their previous statement after a meeting in Limuru. “Our view is that the matter of a Constitution is an important and serious one,” he said. “All Kenyans need to decide and do so from a position of knowledge and information.”"We call for tolerance, restraint and peaceful co-existence as the civic education continues”
Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi
The Head of the ACK urged Kenyans to gain a full understanding of the debate before putting in their vote at the referendum to be held on 21 November.
If the 197-page draft document is approved it will be the first complete overhaul of Kenya’s constitution since the current version was drawn up on the eve of independence from Britain in 1963.
The debate centres around critics’ fears that the document fails to limit the president’s immense powers.
Vice-President Moody Awori warned against inciting hatred in the run up to the referendum: “Let’s be careful with our words which can possibly lead Kenya to a permanent chaos like in Somalia.”
