Catholic Church urges security overhaul, teaching of patriotism in schools

Catholic Justice and Peace Commission chairman Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth addressing journalists in Nakuru on November 26, 2014. He said national security organs need to be urgently overhauled to help restore public confidence in the security apparatus. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  James Kariuki

What you need to know:

  • Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth said numerous security breaches that precipitated the deaths of Kenyans showed there was a major lapse within the national security organs.
  • CPJC said that patriotism must be taught as a subject from nursery schools to the university level so as to inculcate a sense of nationhood among Kenyans.
  • CPJC also called for the urgent launch of a major disarmament drive across the country, saying no civilian should be allowed to possess a firearm.
  • Archbishop Okoth blamed corruption within the security agencies for security lapses that have led to deaths and loss of property across the country.

The Catholic Church has demanded a total overhaul of the top organs of Kenya’s security as a measure to deal with runaway insecurity.

At the same time, the church has proposed the introduction of patriotism courses in the country’s education curriculum.

The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CPJC) chairman Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth said numerous security breaches that precipitated the deaths of Kenyans in various parts of the country openly showed there was a major lapse within the national security organs that needed to be urgently overhauled to help restore public confidence in the security apparatus.

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In their six-point prescription, the CPJC said that patriotism must be taught as a subject from nursery schools to the university level so as to inculcate a sense of nationhood among Kenyans.

“We need to encourage proper training and professionalism of all those in the disciplined forces. Sources of bullets must be keenly traced to ensure no one sells bullets to criminals within and without the country,” CPJC said.

URGENT DISARMAMENT

The CPJC called for the urgent launch of a major disarmament drive across the country, saying no civilian should be allowed to possess a firearm but instead all security officers must take charge of security issues in the country.

Archbishop Okoth, speaking during CPJC’s annual planning meeting at St Mary’s Pastoral Centre in Nakuru, blamed corruption within the security agencies for security lapses that have led to deaths and loss of property across the country.

The meeting, attended by diocesan CPJC co-ordinators, also condemned the planned amendment to the NGO Act, saying gains made in the past decade could be reversed thus affecting public projects worth over Sh10 billion across the country as well as loss of jobs in the sector.

The meeting called for the withdrawal of the planned amendments moved by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.

Archbishop Okoth, who also oversees the Kisumu Catholic Archdiocese, said no community should be favoured in the disarmament exercise.

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