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Church leaders demand action over land clashes
DAILY NATION
Story by JEFF OTIENO
Publication Date: 4/21/2007
The Catholic Church yesterday asked the Government to deal firmly with insecurity in various parts of Kenya.
Bishop John Sulumeti of Kakamega (left) and Bishop John Njue of Nyeri during a press conference in Nairobi yesterday where Catholic bishops called for action on insecurity in Mt Elgon District. Photo/ANTHONY OMUYA |
The church expressed dissatisfaction with the Government’s handling of clashes in Mt Elgon, Tana River and parts of Meru districts.
Twenty seven bishops meeting under the Kenya Episcopal Conference said though the Government had responded to the problems, it could have done better.
“We believe the Government has the machinery to deal with the clashes in Mt Elgon and other parts of the country and we want to see more being done,” said Bishop John Njue who read the statement on behalf of the other clergymen.
The bishops expressed concern over the violence in Mt Elgon saying the continuous loss of lives and the displacement of people had touched their hearts. |
“It is particularly a cause of sorrow that this unrest is between clans of the same community,” Bishop Njue said at a Press conference held at St Thomas Seminary in Nairobi yesterday.
The clergymen urged that the Government to be more assertive in providing security and disarming the Saboat Land Defence Force which has been blamed for indiscriminate killings in the region.
“It (the government) should also state clearly, as the supreme authority, what it wishes to be done with the land available,” said Bishop Njue.
The Government has since cancelled land allocation in the Chebyuk settlement scheme where the Mt Elgon clashes began.
While visiting the clashes-hit area, Internal Security minister John Michuki and Lands minister Kivutha Kibwana said the allocations in phase three, which led to the flare-ups six months ago, had been nullified to ease tensions. The clashes have so killed more than 80 people.
In Tana river, three people died after arsonists burnt more than 300 houses in Bisaida. More than 30 people have since been arrested in connection with the clashes.
The bishops also blamed politicians for clashes, adding that statements made by some leaders could incite people against each other.
According to them, there was a tendency by politicians to inflame emotions during election years “by raising false hopes and making empty promises”.
The clergymen also offered to mediate in conflicts if need arose and urged leaders to help calm the
situation.
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