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Kenya: Nation Not Ready for Elections 2022, Religious Leaders Posit

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4 years ago

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Nairobi — “This Convocation is deeply concerned that the nation is apparently not ready for the Elections 2022. Corruption, impunity, lawlessness, insults and incitement to violence are happening with abandon, and Kenyans are sinking deeper into despair and depression,” reads a communique by the 3rd National Religious Leaders Convocation, meeting from January 19 to 20, at Ufungamano House in Nairobi, Kenya.

The communique read by Archbishop Martin Musonde Kivuva of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa and Chairperson of the Dialogue Reference Group (DRG), observed with regret that political leaders, “have deliberately neglected to address the issues of electoral justice, which exposes the nation to a repeat of the pre and post-election violence and crisis witnessed in the past.

The religious leaders drawn from all over Kenya are adamant that the country’s moral and social structures are threatened and require rebuilding to secure the upcoming General Elections. The leaders noted that ‘there is work pending in Parliament’ and committed to engaging legislators to prioritize the election-related laws.

“Of note is the need for the completion of the Campaign Financing (Amendment) Bill 2020; Framework for Realization of the 2/3 Gender Rule; Political Party Primaries Bill; and other,” read the communique.

The Church leaders also observed with grave concern that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is heavily impeded from executing their mandate of delivering “quality of elections” as envisaged in Article 81 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

In delivering their action points, the convocation opined that the lack of civic and voter education of citizens is the weak link in the democratic system of the country.