Nairobi Region Conferenace
During this Conference, we reflected on the importance of healing and reconciliation in the nation of Kenya, and were guided by the scripture recorded in John 8:7:
“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”.”
We appreciate that there is no community or tribe in Kenya that can claim to be better than the others since we have all sinned and hurt each other.
2. Centrality of National Cohesion, Peace and Reconciliation
Gerald Githinji, the Deputy Governor of Kiambu County, addresses the Conference Gerald Githinji, the Deputy Governor of Kiambu County, addresses the Conference
Over the decades, Kenyan communities have adopted a culture of competition rather than cooperation. We seem to believe that we will only benefit if the others are being deprived. As a result, communities have at times tried to destroy the others thinking that in that way they will benefit. However, all that has come out of it is deep wounds, ethnic hatred and destructive stereotyping.
We call upon all Kenyans to join in a concerted cultural re-orientation so that we embrace each other as equal partners in this country. On our part, we as church leaders in Nairobi Region have committed to use our facilities and resources to promote national cohesion, peace and reconciliation. We will preach genuine forgiveness so as to heal the trauma of violence and tribal divisions.
3. Thanking God for Peaceful Elections
We in Nairobi Region take this moment to thank God for answering the prayers of Kenyans and granting that the elections held last month were peaceful. Our people bore the brunt of the violence that followed the last elections and we are glad that God allowed us to transit to another government peacefully. It is our prayer that the tenure of this government will be peaceful so that Kenyans can focus on building a prosperous nation.
4. Propping Up the County Governments
The just concluded elections radically changed our country and introduced county governments. We welcome this development, and urge all Kenyans to support the devolution process. It is quite unfortunate that the focus of Kenyans has been diverted to discussions about salaries and flags and superiority fights with County Commissioners.
It is our considered position that the constitution provides for the roles to be played by the county and national governments, and as such the disputes about who is senior than the other is a red herring that will not benefit our people. We call upon the governors in our region, and in all the other counties, to get to work so as to remedy the deprivation that Kenyans have experienced over the last fifty years.
We further urge the residents of Nairobi Region to keenly study the constitution and relevant laws that safeguard devolution. When we are adequately informed, we will be in a position to hold our leaders in both the national and county governments to account for the betterment of our lives.
5. Relations Between the Church and the Government
This Nairobi Regional Conference has noted that the church has a duty to support the government for the betterment of the community as we are directed in Romans 13: 1 – 3.
We especially recommend that chaplaincy be established for both the national and county governments so that President and the Governors are supported to enhance value systems, ethics and spirituality in the entire country.
Further to this, we call upon the elected leaders to take into consideration the plight of Kenyans. The concerted demands for increment of salaries for elected leaders is an insult on Kenyans who are being crushed under poverty. We call upon them to first show devotion in serving Kenyans and then the debate on salaries can come after the welfare of the people has improved.
On our pa
Ballots are counted during election of Regional Officials
rt, the church in Nairobi Region will continue with concerted civic education to empower worshippers to engage in governance processes.
6. Challenges Facing Our Region
As the Nairobi Regional Conference, we call upon the governors of Nairobi, Kiambu, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties to take into keen focus the problems facing the residents of this region. Some of these challenges include:
a) Poverty
Most of the residents of our region have been denied dignity of life by poverty. They have been systematically impoverished so that their poverty is used to control them politically. We urge you as our governors to break this trend and instead provide measures to empower our people economically. Your focus must not only be on creating jobs, but more in creating opportunities for small scale industries and produce value addition so that the people develop their own financial livelihoods. That is the true path to poverty eradication.
b) Drug and Substance Abuse
The abuse of drugs and alcohol is prevalent in our counties. We urge you to take decisive measures to destroy the networks that produce and distribute the illicit brews and drugs to protect our people. In addition, it is of great importance that systems are put in place to provide counseling and guidance services to the people so that they can break from these destructive habits and practices.
c) Environmental Degradation
We call upon all our brothers and sisters in Nairobi Region, and the rest of Kenya, to think green, act green, talk green and work green. Let us join hands to take good care of our environment so that the degradation is reversed. We especially call upon all of us to each year plant trees equivalent to our ages so as to help raise the forest cover in our country to the required ten percent.
d) Crisis in the Family
The family unit in this region and the rest of the country is going through major problems. There is a crisis resulting in family breakdowns, delinquency of parents, youth and children, and general breakdown in values and ethics. We recommend that family life education be introduced through the local governance units so as to help our people learn how to live with each other and to resolve the problems our families are going through. On our part, we shall enhance the provision of counseling and guidance especially to families in our churches to contribute towards this goal.
7. NCCK Centenary Celebrations
One hundred years ago, the missionary institutions that were working in Kenya met at Thogoto, near Kikuyu, and signed a constitution to form the Federation of Missions. This was the forerunner of what today we know as National Council of Churches of Kenya. We are this year having our Centenary Celebrations. We invite all the people of Kenya to join us as we thank God for the faithfulness and favour He has shown us over the last one hundred years. It is our prayer that we will contin
The newly elected officials of the region joined by the NCCK legal counsel
ue to play an important role in this nation for the centuries to come.
8. Conclusion
In conclusion, this Nairobi Regional Conference appreciates that the elections held last month have ushered in the county governments. It is now time for the county governors to work hard to uplift the lives of the people. We therefore urge all residents of Nairobi Region to actively engage the governance processes in our counties so as to ensure there is relevant development.
And as Kenya celebrates her Jubilee year, let us all embrace the words of our National Anthem:
Let all with one accord, In common bond united
Build this our nation together, And the glory of Kenya
The fruit of our labour, Fill every heart with thanksgiving
Signed on this 30th day of April 2013 at Jumuia Conference and Country Home, Limuru.
Bishop Moffat Kilioba
Regional Chairman
