Resolutions Of The Clergy Inter-Ethnic Dialogue Forum Held on 20th June 2014 At Jumuia Guest House, Nakuru

Preamble

We the clergy drawn from Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities living in North and South Rift regions have met here at Jumuia Guest House, Nakuru, as part of the intra and inter-ethnic dialogue forums organized by the Pamoja Initiative of the National Council of Churches of Kenya.

We discussed the various issues that have caused conflicts and disputes between communities in the Rift Valley, and reflected on our role as clergy in resolving these matters.

We thus passed the following resolutions:

 Our Mandate

1. As church leaders, we recognize and acknowledge our divine mandate to reach out and shepherd all God’s people irrespective of their race, tribe, social economic status or political persuasion
2. We acknowledge and embrace our duty to preach cohesion and integration among our congregations and society at large
3. We are cognizant of the call by God for us to have genuine love for one another

 Our Resolutions

Recognizing the unique position we hold as clergy in bringing influence and transformation in our communities and especially in promoting cohesion and integration, we commit ourselves to the following:

1. Preach cohesion and integration at every opportunity and always emphasize that our communities are not enemies but we have had disagreements in the past
2. We will propagate a culture of forgiveness and acceptance of each other
3. We will organize inter-ethnic pastors fellowships and pulpit exchanges
4. We will organize joint youth camps to facilitate exchange and interaction
5. We will promote inter marriages between our communities
6. We will promote joint economic activities such as table banking
7. We will organize, support and participate in intra and inter ethnic dialogue forums aimed at promoting national cohesion and integration
8. We will endeavor to provide advice and guidance to political and social leaders
9. We will advocate for the government to bring to a closure the issue of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and forest evictees before the next elections
10. We will seek to influence the media houses so that they exercise responsible journalism
11. We will organize advocacy initiatives to push for good governance and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities at the county and national government levels
12. We will push for a resolution of the land issue through a consultative process that will bring together the clergy, political leaders, community elders and leaders, and the National Land Commission

 Conclusion

The Bible in Proverbs 27: 10  says “Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes – better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away”. We learn from this scripture the importance and necessity of accepting one another as neighbours living together. We therefore commit ourselves to promote good relations between our communities as we carry out the mandate God has placed on us of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that God will continually bless our nation.