Cohesion agency is broke, says Francis ole Kaparo
What you need to know:
- Meeting held with religious leaders.
- National Treasury gave commission only a fraction of its request, says chair.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission is broke, chairman, Mr Francis ole Kaparo says.
He says it is unable to do its work because it does not have money.
Mr Kaparo spoke during a workshop in Nairobi on Wednesday and said that the commission was given Sh300 million but that was not enough.
STILL TOO LITTLE
“We had asked for Sh738 million and the government approved only Sh130 million. However, the Cabinet Secretary and the parliamentary committee on security ensured we got Sh311 million, which is still too little for the job we are required to do.”
The workshop examined the role of the church in peace building and was organised by the commission and the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya.
The agency’s work was risky and hence its workers ought to be paid well, he added.
Because it has no money, he said, the commission was working with various organisations to promote peace.
“The reason we are working with religious leaders is because they have many followers and reach more people.”
Mr Kaparo condemned religious leaders who have been in the headlines for the wrong reasons and asked them to carry their own cross.
“We have had a few complaints on religious leaders but it’s not the whole lot so those breaking the law should be dealt with individually,” he said.
ACCUSED THE MEDIA
He also accused the media of blowing claims against a pastor out of proportion.
James Ng’ang’a, a Nairobi pastor, has been under investigation over an accident that caused a woman’s death.
He had also been at the centre of allegations of a cover-up plot meant to protect him from prosecution over the crash.
His case file is currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mr Kaparo said church leaders should set good examples by not engaging in violence.
