OPINION: Atheists have the right to petition for removal of ‘god’ from national anthem constitutionally

“Oh, God of all creation”, this is a line that is creating a storm in Kenya right now. A line that was included in a composition in 1963 when Kenya was just about to attain its independence from the British. This line refers to God as the creator of everything and was composed before Kenyans thought that there would ever be an atheist movement in their motherland.

Fast forward to 2016, and we have a society that believes in the absence of the existence of deities. This society is known as Atheists in Kenya (AIK) and they advocate for a separation of religion and state in Kenya. The society holds the view that the Kenyan Constitution promotes secularism and fundamental freedoms under the Bill of Rights, including freedom of conscience. That is why a petition was filed on 16^th of October, 2016 by its president, Harrison Mumia, to remove the word ‘God’ from the national anthem.

Majority of those who saw the petition came out strongly against the petition, and some even went ahead to refer to members of Atheists In Kenya as ‘devil worshippers’ without really understanding what the word ‘atheism’ means. An atheist is someone who does not believe in a religion, a philosophy, a worldview, or anything similar. They simply believe that there is no one to be worshipped and that everything that happens under the sun is by chance and not by one’s own efforts. Therefore, atheism is the belief that a deity (either God or Satan) does not exist.

An atheist does not refer to a holy book like The Bible, Quran, Vedas nor Purana. An atheist does not visit a church, mosque, temple or shrine. An atheist is a human being who does not believe in any supreme being. Those who argue out that even Muslims, Hindus and all citizens of other religions also sing the same line do not understand that those religions at least recognize a ‘god’ while atheists do not.

In Chapter Two of the Kenyan Constitution which is about The Republic, Article 8 states that: “There shall be no State religion.”  A clause that leaves a loophole for societies like Atheists In Kenya to file a petition for the removal of the word ‘God’ from the national anthem.

The atheists’ petition holds some water since the constitution of the republic of Kenya does not endorse any religion as its official creed. This means that every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion as stated in Chapter Four (The Bill of Rights) Part 2 (Rights and Fundamental Freedoms) in Article 32 which talks about freedom of conscience, religion, belief and opinion. It further states that; “every person has the right, either individually or in community with others, in public or in private, to manifest any religion or belief through worship, practice, teaching or observance, including observance of a day of worship.”

What AIK simply wants is the following of the constitution to the letter so as not to discriminate or infringe on the rights of any citizen or society in the sovereign republic of Kenya. The last part of Article 32 states that; “A person shall not be compelled to act, or engage in any act, that is contrary to the person’s belief or religion”. In petitioning for the word ‘God’ to be removed from the national anthem, the atheists society has every right to do so since they are being compelled to engage in an act that is contrary to their belief. The atheist belief is that there is no god, and declaring in the national anthem that God is the creator of all grossly violates their belief.

Kenyans should not view the society as a group of sinners or devil worshippers, but as a group of Kenyans who do not believe that deities are real. Yes, atheists know about god, but they do not believe that he exists. Take an example that an atheist is someone who views the Holy Scriptures as mythology, a Batman comic book or a secondary school set book.

The public does not have to be harsh and judgmental on AIK members and those who subscribe to similar beliefs because Jesus, who Christians believe in, warns them against it. Atheists believe that God (or Satan) does not exist just as much as the religious people believe that He exists. They deserve to be heard equally as the religious people since there is no constitutional law they are breaking. Christians say that they believe in God and Jesus who they cannot see with their eyes, but by faith. And it is by faith that atheists believe that they do not exist along with any other deity.

So, it is by the same faith that the word ‘God’ ought to be removed from the national anthem, because you might not know whose faith is correct and whose is not. Therefore, the Constitution has to be followed without considering anyone’s faith. Kenya is not a religious state, and the Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic and binds all persons and all State organs at both levels of government.