National Council of Churches of Kenya Calls for Better Leadership in the Country

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

The National Council of Churches of Kenya have during their meeting prayerfully reflected on the progress made by the Coalition Government since the signing of the National Accord one year ago. As part of our reflection, we discussed the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Monitoring Project Report. The report is the product of a research that was commissioned by the African Union Panel of Eminent African Personalities chaired by His Excellency Koffi Annan. In summary, the report demonstrates that the Coalition Government has failed to demonstrate leadership in implementing the Four Agenda Items that were identified by the Serena Team and recommends urgent reforms to safeguard Kenya from becoming a failed state. These findings agree with those of other actors that have unanimously raised critical questions on the performance of the Grand Coalition government.

We Demand Better and Effective Leadership

Introduction

Performance of the Grand Coalition Government

The Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Monitoring Project Report exhibits that the performance of the Grand Coalition is wanting on the following scores:

On Agenda Item 1, the government committed itself to stop violence and restore fundamental rights and freedoms.

Although the government restored calm, the social political conditions that gave rise to formation and perpetuation of illegal and armed militia groups remain intact and little or no efforts have been made to demobilize them. Fundamental freedoms and liberties are increasingly being constrained. On many occasions, Kenyans expressing their opinions to the government, including Internally Displaced Persons, have been violently dispersed by the police.

On Agenda Item 2, the government committed itself to address the humanitarian crisis and promote national healing and reconciliation

The Grand Coalition government appears to have reduced the importance of the lOP situation as an issue of national priority. Although the number of lOP camps has reduced significantly on one hand, the number of transit camps has increased on the other. lOPs in such camps do not have food; shelter; water; or health care. The calm that followed the signing of the National Accord has also led to the false assumption that the underlying causes of the conflict have been addressed.

On Agenda Item 3, the government committed itself to resolve the political crisis through power sharing

Kenyans view the Grand Coalition as “two-governments-in-one”, It lacks cohesion leading to open and embarrassing disagreements on important issues, Worse still, the Coalition does not have a framework or agreement to manage its affairs. Without such an agreement, it will be difficult for the recently constituted Committee to Manage Coalition Affairs to achieve its objectives,

Absence of cohesion within the Coalition poses a significant threat to the reform agenda, This was exhibited by the defeat of the Bill that sought to establish the Special Tribunal for Kenya, and the disagreement over the members of the Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya.

Although, the Constitution of Kenya Review Act was passed by Parliament and the setting up of the constitution review organs is underway, it has taken an unduly long period of time. Kenyans are faced with joblessness, famine, endemic poverty and inequalities. Although unemployment among the youth was identified as a major contributor to the Post Election Crisis, initiatives by the state do not seem to be effective or responsive. Such initiatives have narrowly focused on entrepreneurship without taking into consideration the fact that not all youth are organized into groups to access the funds for small businesses,

While we do appreciate that the enactment of the National Cohesion and Integration Act is a step in the right direction, it is quite regrettable that this Act has still not been gazetted,

We are saddened that the coalition government continues to condone corruption among the rank and file of its officers, The two Principals have not acted on their corrupt Ministers, and, likewise, Ministers have continued to protect their officers implicated in corruption. If corruption is not arrested, the Grand Coalition may turn out to be the hallmark of Grand Corruption in the history of Kenya,

Message of the Inter Religious Forum

The National Council of Churches of Kenya endorses the message by the Religious Leaders issued on 19th February 2009 during the National Prayer Day. It is our hope that the issues raised will be addressed appropriately.

The Way Forward

In view of the developments that have happened so far, and the issues raised in the message by the Inter Religious Forum, we wish to make the following proposals on the way forward:

1. On the implementation of the Waki report

NCCK is concerned that despite the gravity and urgency of the issue of setting up a Special Tribunal to try the suspected perpetrators of the Post Election Violence, the Government has demonstrated consistent lethargy, reluctance and indifference, Despite a chorus of discontent on the exclusive process that was used to develop the Bill and the inadequacies in its content from religious leaders, civil society organizations, and some members of the Coalition Government, the Executive rushed the Bill to Parliament. The Bill did not enjoy consensus even within the Cabinet itself and was therefore doomed to fail. The people of Kenya are aware that most of the persons who bear the greatest responsibility for financing and perpetrating the Post Election Violence are Members of Parliament and the Cabinet of the Grand Coalition Government. Members of Parliament are therefore in essence required to set up a Tribunal to try some of their own colleagues. As a rule, no one can sit as a judge on his own cause. Secondly, Kenyans have legitimate fears that the top perpetrators of the Post Election Violence enjoy close proximity to the two Principals. Such persons appear to enjoy ‘immunity’ from punishment in Kenya. Due to the conflict of interest within Parliament and the Cabinet, NCCK has serious doubts whether Parliament is capable of setting up an independent, credible and impartial Special Tribunal for Kenya. In this regard, NCCK proposes the following:

That Koffi Annan makes public the list of names of the persons named in the Waki Report.
That Koffi Annan hands over the list to Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court at The Hague without further delay.
That immediately the list of names is made public, all those mentioned resign from public offices.

On its part, NCCK will mobilize the people of Kenya to petition Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to prosecute the persons implicated in the Waki report. We shall collect over one million signatures from Kenyans across the whole Country to support our petition to The Special Prosecutor. We call upon other non-state actors who share this view to declare so and mobilize in consultation with us for a joint petition.

2. On the implementation of the Kriegler Report

The inability of the political leaders to make democratic decisions based on broad based consensus is worrying. To make matters worse, Parliament went on recess leaving the country exposed in the event that elections are required to be held. The failure to secure an agreement on the nominees for persons to be appointed as Commissioners of the Independent Interim Electoral Commission demonstrates the selfish and incoherent manner that Parliament and its committees are handling matters of great national importance.

That the President and the Prime Minister reconvene Parliament immediately
That the Members of Parliament constitute the Interim Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya as a matter of national emergency
That the President appoints and gazettes the Interim and Independent Electoral Commission immediately Parliament approves the names of the Commissioners
That if Parliament trivializes this matter, Kenyans of goodwill initiate with immediate effect multi faceted initiatives to press for the necessary implementation of the reform agenda

3. On grand corruption

The two Principals promised Kenyans that they would not condone corruption. Indeed, the President is on record as having stated that if a member of the Cabinet is mentioned in a scam, he shall ensure the Minister steps down to pave way for investigation. The Coalition Government continues to whitewash the Goldenberg and Anglo-Leasing Corruption rip offs while protecting the Government Officials implicated in the oil and maize scandals. In this regard, NCCK calls for:

The immediate resignation of Cabinet Ministers mentioned in the scandals until their names are cleared
The immediate publication of the report of the Commission of Inquiry that investigated the controversial sale of Grand Regency Hotel

4. On national leadership

The political leaders must realize that the people of Kenya are now more empowered than they were 5 years ago. As such, the non-responsiveness to their cries by the coalition government is not only worrying, but also irresponsible since political leaders exercise power delegated to them by the people. The people have the power to withdraw their support from the leadership if they so wish.

The leadership of this country needs to realize that Kenyans are hungry and angry, discontented and disillusioned. The cry of wananchi is not reaching the leadership. Even when the leaders hear what the people are saying, they act as if they have not heard anything. Like in the days of Pharaoh, it seems as if the more the people of Kenya cry out for help under the heavy yoke of ignorance and disease, famine and unemployment, corruption and bad governance on one hand, the harder the hearts of the political leadership become.

NeCK would like to send a clear message to the President and the Prime Minister: Unless the two of you occupy your constitutional space and offer responsible leadership to the Country, the vacuum emerging will be filled by those who will send Kenya on the path of revolution which may destroy what is left of our social fabric. This is your historic moment. Seize it and turn around our beloved nation Kenya. Humble yourselves and give better leadership.

5. On extra-judicial killings

The interim report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions confirms the depths to which the institutions that are meant to protect Kenyans have sunk. Institutions that are meant to safeguard human rights and liberties have systematically turned out to be perpetrators of gross human rights violations. We welcome the report of the Special Rapporteur as a contribution to our national soul searching and reflection. Instead of the disjointed reaction by the different government officials, we urge that the report be studied and the necessary corrective measures taken. Those implicated must step aside to restore public confidence in the institutions and pave way for the reforms that are urgently required in those institutions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we call upon the people of Kenya to demand for better leadership. Time has come for the Coalition Government to deliver on the promises it was formed to achieve in the first place. The patience of Kenyans must never be abused in the name of an indecisive, bloated ‘two-in-one-government” and a non responsive Grand Coalition. Read the signs of the times and act for the good of this Country.

Rt Rev Dr Charles Kibicho, Chairman

Rev Canon Peter Karanja, General Secretary