Outgoing Bishop Salala hands over Church stave to incoming Anglican Church of Kenya Diocese of Mumias Rev. Dr. Joseph Wandera during his consecration and enthronement as the third Bishop. BY BENJAMIN SAKWA
Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) clergymen led by Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit have warned political leaders against attacking the Supreme Court.
Speaking in Mumias during the consecration of the new Mumias Diocese Bishop Joseph Wandera, Sapit told leaders to stop threatening judges for nullifying the election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“The court in its verdict did what it was mandated to do and presented Kenyans with the facts. It is not right for any leader to threaten this institution,” he said.
He said the church respects the Judiciary and its ruling as issued by the Chief Justice.
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He urged Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to be vigilant and give Kenyans a free, fair and credible election.
“They (IEBC) have been given a second chance to handle the will of the people and they should therefore be careful that there are no more irregularities,” he said.
Dr Wandera, the new bishop, urged leaders to be patient during this period.
“It important that we have patience and wait for the IEBC to give us the new election date,” said Wandera.
The leaders also applauded NASA leader Raila Odinga for seeking justice in the court.
“We as the church are glad that he took our counsel and presented his grievances to the court. We now want them to hold their campaigns in the proper way,” said retired Bishop Benaiah Salala.
The enthronement service took place at Bomani grounds in Mumias town.
Unrealistic demands
In Kirinyaga County, religious leaders urged politicians from both sides of the political divide to be extra cautious on statements they make ahead of the repeat of the presidential polls. The leaders also called on the Jubilee leadership to stop attacking the Judiciary for its historic judgement that annulled the presidential results.
The local Anglican Diocesan Bishop Joseph Kibucwa said Jubilee still has the largest following in the country and advised its leaders to focus on campaigns.
“Since President Uhuru Kenyatta accepted last Friday’s judicial judgement but disagreed with it at the same time, he should now devote all energies towards his party campaigns to prove his critics wrong,” the cleric said.
Kibucwa said since the truth is a bitter pill to swallow, Uhuru and his running mate William Ruto should just accept they are going for repeat elections.
The Mt Kenya Pastors Forum also urged Uhuru to forget about last Friday’s Supreme Court decision and focus on campaigns.
Through its Chairman Bishop Daniel Njagi, the forum also asked NASA to stop making unrealistic demands on the IEBC.
“Since the Supreme Court ordered the IEBC to prepare for the repeat presidential elections within 60 days and now NASA wants this constitutional body out of the way, are they not preparing ground for anarchy?” he posed.
He told the NASA leadership to stop making such untenable demands, which may provoke their Jubilee rivals to start thinking otherwise.
“This is not the time to chest thump, but a delicate period where we call for sobriety and tolerance if the country is to remain united,” the cleric said.
